New Cold Mountain Transcreation 18

Since I’ve been dwelling on Cold Mountain 

how many ten-thousand years have come and gone?

Following my fate, I came to a place of woods and water

and here I stop and stay, observing being as it is.

No one troubles this cold cliff—

impenetrable white clouds obscure.

Meager grass makes my mattress.

Expansive blue sky is my quilt.

Satisfied, I rest my head on a pillow of stone

letting heaven and earth attend to transformation.

26-red pine; 163-henricks; 241-tanahashi; 7-snyder

New Cold Mountain Transcreation 17

I experience the peak of the Platform of the Sky, 

most eminent among that mass of mountains.

Pine and bamboo murmur in the swaying of the wind

like the ocean tide seesawing beneath the moonlight.

Contemplating green slopes below,

I consider the dark principle with white clouds.

My wild delight concurs with these mountains and rivers.

My prime intent is being with such companions of the Way.

  

226-red pine; 228-henricks; 60-watson; 231-tanahashi

New Cold Mountain Transcreation 16

I sit on a large slab of rock.

The valley stream is icy, cold.

Quietly, joyfully, I take in the enchantment

enveloped in the mists that cling to empty cliffs.

This is such a still restful place.

The sun is slant and shadows of trees grow enhanced.

I can see the bottom ground of mind—

a lotus is emerging from the sediment.

264-red pine; 266-henricks; 219-tanahashi; 267-rouzer

New Cold Mountain Transcreation 15

Cold Mountain is an undisturbed place

isolated from the worldly passersby.

Often I come across birds in the forest

and together sing our mountain songs.

Sacred plants flow along streams into valleys.

Venerable pines climb the difficult peaks.

Here you see an easygoing solitary

pausing by a precipice.

256-red pine; 257-henricks; 217-tanahashi; 258-rouzer

New Cold Mountain Transcreation 14

Cloud-blossoming mountains growing toward a heavenly blue sky. 

The road is out-of-the-way and the forest is profound—there are no wayfarers here.

Far-off I see the desolate immortal toad moon shining brightly.

Nearby I hear a flock of birds and their familiar chirping.

An old man is sitting alone on a dark green cliff.

Retiring to this abode, he lets his hair grow gray.

He sighs the past is like the present day—

unpremeditated, like all those rivers flowing east.

122-red pine; 123-henricks; 178-tanahashi; 123-rouzer

New Cold Mountain Transcreation 13

Your brushstrokes may be uninhibited

and physique be quite substantial

but alive, there is your limit.

And dead, one is a nameless ghost.

It’s been like this since ancient days.

To struggle now is simply pointless.

So join me here inside white clouds—

I’ll teach you timeless mushroom songs.

25-red pine; 19-henricks; 142-tanahashi; 19-rouzer

New Cold Mountain Transcreation 12

On Cold Mountain, there’s just white clouds,

noiseless, still, detached from dust.

My mountain retreat is a seat of grass.

The arc of the moon is my only lamp.

My stone bed overlooks a jade pond.

Tigers and deer make my only neighbors.

I prefer the joys of this hidden home

where living is always outside of form.

287-red pine; 290-henricks; 141-tanahashi; rouzer-292