December 19th, 2018

At Thatched Hut on Flower Peak

Hard rain, our gathered firewood scant;
Lamp frozen, glimmers not at night.
In the cave, wind blows stones and mud.
Moss engravings weatherstrip rickety door.
Brooks in torrent untiring;
People’s words more and more rare.
What schemes calm heart?
Sitting in the lotus,
Wrapped in robes of Zen.

Hsu Yun (1840-1958)