As if Dreaming



The sky becomes one with its clouds
the waves with their mist.
In Heaven’s starry river, a thousand sails
dance.
As if dreaming, I return to the place
where the Highest lives,
and hear a voice from the heavens:
Where am I going?
I answer, “The road is long,”
and sigh; soon the sun will be setting.
Hard to find words in poems to carry
amazement:
on its ninety-thousand-mile wind,
the huge inner bird is soaring.
O wind, do not stop–
My little boat of raspberry wood
has not yet reached the Immortal Islands.

Chinese Poet Li Qingzhao
from Admiring Lotuses

(translated by Jane Hirshfield)


1 Comment(s)

  1. Comment by Clare on February 3, 2008 5:07 pm

    Hi Ron! Jane Hirshfield did a great job translating this incredible poem.  And Li Qingzhao did an amazing job writing it.  And I thank you deeply for sharing it here!:)

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