Books by the old Leather Chair

  • Snow In The Summer
  • My Bible
  • The Power of Silence
  • What Comes Next and to Like It
  • Encore Provence
  • A Year in Provence

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Busy Summer Days and Chinese Poetry

Some at wine tastings
another, seems like yesterday
he was so small.
Two, I cannot even imagine
on these surf boards
Another cooking away in New York.
One will soon begin the journey
far over the ocean.
Her first born is discovering
painting talent.  I remember
the easel that once was a gift
and never took the time to be
still and just paint...
For this matriarch - all remains the same
a light shower and gardens look
a little refreshed.
A pocket of peace are
Chinese poetry books
she  finds reading them
 very relaxing.....
Thank you special son
for introducing me to these wonderful words
I will find much pleasure in your collection of
these books...

I admire how easily contentment comes
just sitting here in the midst of all this,
and marveling at the song of heaven,
I blend in a few words and let it
voice my nature: a far-country recluse
caught in nets of human consequence.
My best years offered up day by day,
I trust old age to this mountain return,
a tired bird finding its thick forests,
a worn-out fish back in clear streams
If I ever left here, where would I go---
that people realm all trial and peril?

Mountain Home - The Wilderness Poetry of Ancient China
                Translated by David Hinton

7 comments:

mermaid said...

The poem describes you well, Ernestine. I'm so glad you posted it, and your love for your family, too!

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

My Dear Kaveri, thank you so much.
I am totaly unfamilar with Chinese poetry. Am amazed at what I am reading. So much of it I relate to. These are poets from long long ago.

Judy said...

I was going to say the same thing! It sounds like you and your place. Beautiful!

Balisha said...

I love reading poetry...I find it so calming.
Those girls are growing by leaps and bounds...so cute.
Enjoy your family visits.
Balisha

shannon said...

Ernestine, I,too thought you had written it,until I got to the end!

the wild magnolia said...

Our oriental friends offer such peaceful insight. I loved this poem. It has depth and wisdom and can be thought on again and again.

So many good things to draw out of life and set upon a shelf to remember.

Happy Monday.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Judy, Balisha, Shannon and Sandra, thank you for visiting.
Love what I am reading. A dozen books of Chinese poetry are welcome through the coming months.