Climbing the Mountain

by Yuan Mei

English version by J. P. Seaton
Original Language Chinese

I burned incense, swept the earth, and waited
               for a poem to come...

Then I laughed, and climbed the mountain,
               leaning on my staff.

How I'd love to be a master
               of the blue sky's art:

see how many sprigs of snow-white cloud
               he's brushed in so far today.

-- from I Don't Bow to Buddhas: Selected Poems of Yuan Mei, Translated by J. P. Seaton

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Climbing the Mountain