"Initiate the Heart"

Random Poetry List LIII

Consider the season's wheel:
the turn of summer creeping over
leaves one incurved tendril on the vine,
one pointed peak of sweet, late clover.

Initiate the heart to change
for it is wiser so,
accepting the splendor of the hour
white with clematis or snow.

Fortify the will with peace;
no season taking root,
tranquil in mist, in warmth, in frost,
each bears fruit.

Sr. Mary Maura (American, b. 1916)

Originally e-mailed on Thursday, July 06, 2000 @ 10:15 PM.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Thu. 07/06/06 07:57:48 AM
Categorized as Literary & Random Poetry List.

"In the Night"

Random Poetry List LII

Light of the silver torch that has no smoke
Recalls me from the seventh world of sleep.
A shadow pine tree grows upon my wall.
On the white paper of my window screen
A shadow hill by shadow brush is drawn.
All life is shadow in my room tonight.
I know not if I wake or if I sleep—
Music breathes through the silence; can it be
Wind in the shadow pine tree, or a song
Drawn from a hidden harp that has no string?

Choe Chung (Chinese-Korean, AD 984-1068)
tr. Jean S. Grigsby

Originally e-mailed on Monday, July 06, 1998 @ 10:25 PM.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Thu. 07/06/06 07:52:14 AM
Categorized as Literary & Random Poetry List.