Chinese Poetry

Always one who loved books and enjoys reading.

But never in my lifetime
until recently
did I read Chinese poetry.
If anyone had mentioned it to me
I would have replied
"not interested."
Never in anyway have I related to Chinese culture.

What has happened over the last 6 years
is
I find such peace reading and can relate
to much these poems share.

They share of  those who want
a simpler lifestyle.
This one started on this journey years ago

A journey I began and still on that journey
and most likely will never arrive.
Seems I started with a lot baggage, emotional
 and things
from other lifestyles.

These poems share of those who go into
the isolated beautiful mountains and live so simply.

Over a number of weeks, in the evening I pick up
a new book I recently ordered
"The Mountain Poems of Stonehouse"  translation by Red Pine.

Page after page is underlined and when I read of their simple lifestyles
it seems in my heart I relate and it is like a blanket of peace has dropped over me.

I thank my son for introducing me to this type of poetry.  Years ago and now
he sometimes sends his mama a special poem and I would look up to see where
it came from. Sometime I would find it among his collection of Chinese poetry books.
  I began to go through his books here in this cottage 5 years ago
"he has quite a library"   and discovered many Chinese Poetry books.
Reading them always has been enjoyable to me.

Also, this would never have happened if my son had not moved part of the year
to Thailand, writes me weekly such incredible emails that encourage me
as I continue to learn at this late stage of life
Also his belongings are in this cottage in his room.

Over the last years I have ordered some of the books for my own library  but included in the
stacks of favorite books by my reading chair are many of his books.

In these last years
there have been so many
surprises.
One of them acquiring a computer in my 70's,
writing a journal and that I am drawn too
Chinese Poetry....

"Advancing or retiring grasping or letting go
people all have their own ways
Heaven and Earth let me be lazy
profit and fame put others to work
gulls sleep on piers with their backs to the sun
swallows build nests above house beams
misled by passion distracted by things
they remain unaware of the Master of Emptiness"

and I wish for this :)

"Now that I am old nothing disturbs me
I'm asleep on my cot before the sun sets
dreaming and wondering who I am
until the new moon lights the peach blossoms

After meditation I chant a Cold Mountain Poem
after dinner I brew grain-rain tea
and when some feeling lingers I can't express
I take a basket across the ridge and gather vine flowers"