Revelations From Poet Atop A Mountain Poem by Dennis Spilchuk

After an arduous climb to the top of the mountain,
I looked back to see them looking at me;
Waiting for an answer, they queried,
'What do you see; 'O Great One' of the Ming Dynasty? '

What could I see? (Cloud cover below my feet.)
But I could hear echoes, and so I imagined tranquility,
and painted a picture of myself
atop the mountain, leaning on a bramble staff
breathing deeply while gazing out far and free,
and put together words of poetry
to describe what I heard and seen.
***

Poet On A Mountain Top by Shen Zhou, (Chinese,1427-1509)
(translation from Indiana University)

White clouds sash-like
wrap mountain waists,
The rock terrace flies in space
distant, a narrow path.
Leaning on a bramble staff
far and free I gaze,
To warble of valley brook
I will reply, whistling.
***