An old poem

cool mountain temple
cool mountain temple
poem of Zhang Ji painted on old curtain
poem of Zhang Ji painted on old curtain
old and no longer used pieces of wood
pieced together
old and no longer used pieces of wood pieced together
linked and secured with thread
linked and secured with thread
tinted with colors
tinted with colors
a structure is formed
a structure is formed
seen from the top, the structure is vaguely found
seen from below, its form is truly present
seen from the top, the structure is vaguely found seen from below, its form is truly present
some other pieces of wood, found and gathered, painted with colors
some other pieces of wood, found and gathered, painted with colors
light blue , pinkish yellow, parallelling each other
light blue , pinkish yellow, parallelling each other
like stationed boats , ready to be embarked to the other side of the shore
like stationed boats , ready to be embarked to the other side of the shore
stationed or in motion, a decision
stationed or in motion, a decision
then, at one moment, the sun comes in:
a stationed moment illuminated, within
then, at one moment, the sun comes in: a stationed moment illuminated, within
through the curtain, time is stopped to be seen
through the curtain, time is stopped to be seen
one year later
one year later
admist weathered time and space, a different scenario is shown
admist weathered time and space, a different scenario is shown
the intonaco that fell, the structure of the green house that crumbled, the bits and pieces of the remaining colored branches
the intonaco that fell, the structure of the green house that crumbled, the bits and pieces of the remaining colored branches
all meet up
all meet up
to form a new identity
to form a new identity
without ever forgetting that moment of poetic realm
without ever forgetting that moment of poetic realm
of cool mountain 's questioning and gathering whatever 's response:
of cool mountain 's questioning and gathering whatever 's response:
Cool mountain : just what should one do when one is being pushed to a corner; beaten up, despised, in words and in deeds
Gathering whatever says: Ah, whatever the other does, in whatever negative ways, just stay aloof, do not confront, station in your heart at ease
Cool mountain : just what should one do when one is being pushed to a corner; beaten up, despised, in words and in deeds Gathering whatever says: Ah, whatever the other does, in whatever negative ways, just stay aloof, do not confront, station in your heart at ease
wait a few years 
and see what happens
wait a few years and see what happens
this conversation between cool mountain and gathering whatever is an approximate translation of the famous zen story where the heart of peace is emphasised; a basic illuminated spirit of the zen training of no mind
this conversation between cool mountain and gathering whatever is an approximate translation of the famous zen story where the heart of peace is emphasised; a basic illuminated spirit of the zen training of no mind
when nothing can be done, a lot yet can be done once your heart lies somewhere else, in another space, and another time
when nothing can be done, a lot yet can be done once your heart lies somewhere else, in another space, and another time

Cool Mountain Temple

by Zhang Ji ( poet of Tang dynasty )

gone, the moon

wailing, the corvo

frost 

all over the sky

Maple by the pond

upon fishermen's boats

a light

ignited

a heart

asleep

with sorrow

Over there

on the other side

of Suzhou

from the temple

of

cool mountain

at midnight

its bell

sings its way

unto

this

temporary

boat of life

( approximate translation of the poem Staioning at the Maple bridge at night )

(First part of works was done in 2015,  second part in 2016)

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