“Strong” [Poetry Style #8] by Sikong Tu [w/ Audio]

Walk with a mind that's clear and unburdened, 
With life force that flares -n- flows like rainbows,
Traversing the witch's gorge through the mountains --
Among the floating clouds and blowing winds.
Drink up the spiritual; dine on the real;
Let them ever build up in your body.
Emulate the health and might of the gods,
Preserve your energy through harmony.
Be one with Heaven, be one with the Earth.
See in yourself divine transformations.
Know all this to the utmost -- be all this,
And hold on to it 'til the bitter end.

NOTE: The late Tang Dynasty poet, Sikong Tu (a.k.a. Ssŭ-k‘ung T‘u,) wrote an ars poetica entitled Twenty-Four Styles of Poetry. It presents twenty-four poems that are each in a different tone, reflecting varied concepts from Taoist philosophy and aesthetics. Above is a translation of the eighth of the twenty-four poems.

Mountain Forest [Haiku]

a cave-like forest:
then valley and sun align,
and one ‘s outside-in.

DAILY PHOTO: Covered Bridge, Pai

Fishing by Feel [Haiku]

herons & egrets
wade in pond algae,
blindly fishing.

Rough & Tumble [Lyric Poem]

Oh, no, no! Don’t you get your gun.
It’s not that kind of wicked fun.
It’s just that rough and tumble stuff
Where one can say, “Enough ‘s enough!”
And go your separate ways, knowing
That the fight is still ongoing,
And it’ll never really be done
‘Cause it’d never truly begun.

DAILY PHOTO: Trees & Streets, Bangalore

Open Lotus [Haiku]

a lotus opens;
its yellow pod shining
back at the sun.

DAILY PHOTO: Figures in Nong Buak Haad Park

Red Blossoms [Haiku]

red blossom-laden
branches race across
blue summer skies.