Three Pines and a Buddha - Part 1
Amitayus, the Buddha of Eternal Life
India, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Basgo Castle, circa 1625 - LACMA Collections
Authored by A. S. Kline © Copyright 1999 All Rights Reserved.
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1.
White lotus -
and in its arms feel the dragonfly.
2.
Not I -
under your eye-lids
you hide.
3.
On the sheet
of brown water
the mandarin ducks -
two lives
on the one surface.
4.
This rain
that falls
into the heart
of the lotus
empties time.
5.
The eyelid - opened
to reveal
one drop
in which you are.
7.
The poem's surface
covers
with a fine lacquer
life's black ink and gold thread.
8.
The insect
surprised by red dawn
vaguely
hesitates in the air.
9.
How
will the tethered boat
ever shake itself
free ?
10.
The boat -
grounded in the shallows
collects water-plants
croaking frogs
pale fish.
11.
One flame -
that exhausted
everything
condemns
and exalts a life.
12.
You need -
an infinite space
without selfishness
around you.
13.
On the frozen lake
the Emperor
shoots bright arrows
across banks of snow.
14.
The ice -
at your heart
an ominous silence.
15.
That Buddha
cannot feel
the dragon of rain and cloud
joyously dancing
on his head.
16.
Azure sea
azure sky
over which
we float
in a dream.
17.
Fragile though -
this pain
that a whole life
cannot contain.
From compassion
pledge and trust.
18.
The seven petals
of the wild flower
are not the totality
of your name,
this fragrance
is not your fragrance.
19.
The cat falls
confused
by the butterfly.
20.
The poet always knows
the sting at the core of the flower
21.
The eye
does not wait
for the mind
to hear the line.
22.
The curious stare
from the face of mindless nature
concerns me.
23.
True knowledge
is afraid
of knowing.
24.
This flower
without eyes.
25.
Waking -
to moonlight
in the night.
You being
the opposite
of emptiness.
26.
Again and again -
in the one night
water falling
on the sea.
27.
Blanched earth -
without desire
at last
the empty god
in the deserted field
sleeps on white stalks.
28.
What if then when pain ends
so does joy ?
29.
This screen
peopled with others' emotions
leaves mine outside.
30.
The fear -
and the pain
of deep love
part of the same joy.
31.
This different water moves
but is the same thing's
cold waterfall.
32.
Pressed against my side,
how to shrink you
into my heart
already there.
33.
No sound
of the waterfall's
great sound.
34.
Even when I stop
to consider
this silent Buddha
the pain of being
keeps on moving.
35.
How to judge
what never judges -
the inhuman
either way.
36.
Pine mist
and white fire
cover the country
of autumn silence.
37.
Mouth to mouth -
one spirit explores
another spirit
in the new landscape.
38.
Across the bridges
of time
I will follow
your imaginary breath.
39.
Who is
speaking here ?
Nothing
present, and no-one
past.
40.
Two leaves
lie over each other
under the basin's
stone sill.
41.
A flute
played
in the invisible evening
at Loyang long ago.
42.
Through the enchanting
autumn moonlight
imagining a goddess
vanishing in the cloud.
43.
Overpowering beauty -
the fragrance
of the yellow azalea.
44.
In the mirror -
the flower opens
to allow a drop
of dew deep inside.
45.
This pale flower
in the dawn light
dusts my white pillow.
46.
On the thorn hedge
sharp sparrows
and flowers of may.
47.
That to which you say no
I too will quietly resist
48.
Intermingling -
after flowering
the implicit fragrance.
49.
Resonance
in the flesh -
the bronze bell
still humming
in the walls
of the temple.
50.
The singing serpents
of wistaria branches
suddenly clotted
with flowers.
51.
Under your
closed eyes
see
the spirit singing.
52.
Closing your eyes
suddenly
you can hear
smell, feel.
53.
Breathe once
and the water
of her beauty
will be clouded.
54.
Lie -
on my breast
and be
the child of eternity.
55.
White plum-flower
bows to the lotus.
Red peony
bows to the chrysanthemum.
56.
Gold letters
and grey script
on the pure snow.
Branches dipped
in the pure ink
of midnight.
57.
Between two dreams
this other
day of life.
58.
Circles of light -
the pool of water
has had an idea.
59.
Water falling on water
washes the whole earth.
60.
The river of rain
makes us cling together
more closely
warming the heart.
61.
Who knows why
tonight
you are more passionate ?
A memory
held hostage forever ?
62.
Which little piece of me
is held
between the lines ?
63.
Silver dust
on the dark landscape
is this fine grain
of sentiment
you deride.
64.
Yourself
which you consider
of no value
I value.
The selfless mirror.
65.
Out of the fog
the river emerges
black and slow.
66.
Overpowering -
the sweetness
of the accumulated emotion
of echoing fortuity.
67.
Overcoming first fears
you accept
this poured-out gold
this innocuous lightning.
68.
I am
the space
I do not see
enclosed by
the space
I see.
69.
Now a memory
is already buried
in this mind
waiting to become present.
70.
Heart of ice -
you thaw
are suddenly gold.
71.
I carry it
from day to day
this sadness
which will not go away -
lingering.
72.
Sometimes -
the mind is monstrous.
Sometimes -
the body is culpable.
73.
Sap is a strange gold
in the straw of green
this rush of life
under the leaf's surface.
74.
A carpet
of young fir-trees
the dragon
of mist
on its back.
75.
Moon
deep in your body
draws the tides
of azure and silver.