POEM: Hard is the journey by Li Po (Li Bai) 701-762

[kerkevik_2014]

Nearly chose another poem over this one by Li Po (Li Bai) 701-762; second of the poets in the Penguin Classics 80th Anniversary booklet - #9 in the series, Three Tang Dynasty Poets.

This one though feels far truer to my state of being right now; over time as well.


Hard is the journey

Gold vessels of fine wine,
thousands a gallon,
Jade dishes of rare meats,
costing more thousands,

I lay my chopsticks down,
no more can banquet,
And draw my sword and stare
wildly about me:

Ice bars my way to cross
the Yellow River,
Snows from dark skies to climb
the T'ai-hang Mountains!

At peace I drop a hook
into a brooklet,
At once I'm in a boat
but sailing sunward...

(Hard is the journey,
Hard is the journey,
So many turnings,
And now where am I?)

So when a breeze breaks waves,
bringing fair weather,
I set a cloud for sails,
cross the blue oceans!


Goddess watch over us all,



kerk tehkek