Beyond Silence

Beyond Silence

Blue-green spring water,
white moonlit mountain.

Quiet wisdom of the spirit:
empty gaze beyond silence.

Han-shan [Cold Mountain]

A cold night—sitting alone in my empty room

A cold night—sitting alone in my empty room

Filled only with incense smoke.

Outside, a bamboo grove of a hundred trees;

On the bed, several volumes of poetry.

The moon shines through the top of the window,

And the entire neighborhood is still except for the cry of insects.

Looking at this scene, limitless emotion,

But not one word.



Ryokan