Monday, December 15, 2014

For Cold Mountain


The Tang Dynasty poet Cold Mountain, Han Shan, is one of my favorite poets.  Cold Mountain has been a companion of mine for decades.  He has been a big influence on my own poetry and continues to be a nourishing presence.  Here is a sestina dedicated to Cold Mountain:

For Cold Mountain

On the river
Always flowing
Silver moonlight
Autumn glowing
In the distance
Mountain stillness

Mountain stillness
By the river
In the distance
Always flowing
Fall leaves glowing
Under moonlight

Under moonlight
Mountain stillness
Fall leaves glowing
By the river
Always flowing
In the distance

In the distance
Under moonlight
Always flowing
Mountain stillness
By the river
Fall leaves glowing

Fall leaves glowing
In the distance
By the river
Silver moonlight
In the stillness
Always flowing

Always flowing
Fall leaves glowing
In the stillness
In the distance
Silver moonlight
On the river

On the river
Always flowing
Silver moonlight
Ever glowing
In the distance
Mountain stillness

 

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