A Cold Mountain Song of Han-shan and Ravi Kopra
This rare and heavenly creature
by Han-shan (Cold Mountain)
This rare and heavenly creature
alone without peer
look and it’s not there
it comes and goes but not through doors
it fits inside a square-inch
it spreads in all directions
unless you acknowledge it
you’ll meet but never know
— from The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain, Translated by Red Pine
*****
Standing on a desolate cold mountain
looking into calm skies
Han-shan wonders -
who's this one who created
the world and everywhere wanders.
Sure no one was before him
so he's peerless.
Since he's everywhere
he never through doors enters.
You have no proof of him
so to know him
you have to be stupid
first to acknowledge him.
- from Spiritual Songs for the Dimwits by Ravi Kopra
© White Wings., all rights reserved.
In case you missed...
Some other recent posts by White Wings
- Shadows - An Urdu Poem of Muhammad Deen Taseer in English Translation
- Be Near Me - An Urdu Poem of Faiz Ahmed Faiz in English Translation
- Solitude - An Urdu Poem of Faiz Ahmed Faiz in English Translation
- Abdullay Khan da putar Ali - A Punjabi Poem From Pakistan
- Udhan Singh and His Bride - A Punjabi Poem
© 1998-2008 Copyright Sulekha.com Connecting Indians Worldwide, All Rights Reserved.
Recommend