How long will you think about this painful life?
How long will you think about this harmful world?
The only thing it can take from you is your body.
Don't say all this rubbish and stop thinking.

I steeled my nerves to brave God.
I strengthened my will to capture God.
I stilled my mind to welcome God.
I emptied my heart to treasure God.

[Excerpt from “The Dance of Life Part 1”]

How graceful the swans neck of henziyani looks,
spare her from evil eyes, my Lord,
Thy bounty, that won't lessen,
O God, Lo, the love goes on a frolic outing.

How funny it would be if dreamy I
Should leave one book behind me when I die
And that a book of Law—this silly thing
Just written for the money it will bring.
I do hope, when it's finished, I'll have time
For other books and better spurts of rhyme.

897

How fortunate the Grave—
All Prizes to obtain—
Successful certain, if at last,
First Suitor not in vain.

How fast our hair grows gray!
Before we pray
Our evening prayer, the night falls.
Death calls
Our name
Before coming success and fame.

How admirable!
to see lightning and not think
life is fleeting.


Translated by Robert Hass

Why ask me, Gastrogogue, to dine
(Unless to praise your rascal wine)
Yet never ask some luckless sinner
Who needs, as I do not, a dinner?

How will this beauty, when I am far hence,
Sweep back upon me and engulf my mind!

How will these hours, when we twain are gray,
Turned in their sapphire tide, come flooding o'er us!

Hop-o'-my-thumb and little Jack Horner,
What do you mean by tearing and fighting?
Sturdy dog Trot close round the corner,
I never caught him growling and biting.