DAILY PHOTO: Scenes from Zuocang Trail

“Poet on a Mountaintop” by Shen Zhou [w/ Audio]

Art and Poem by Shen Zhou, a Ming Dynasty Artist
White clouds engird the mountain.
Stone steps climb to nothingness.
Alone, the poet leans on his staff,
 gazing into the expanse,
 and accompanies the stream:
  bamboo flute joining murmurs
  of unseen flowing water.

Winter Clouds [Haiku]

winter clouds:
will they / won't they rain? or snow?
 or just menace?

Hidden Ridges [Haiku]

even the small mountains
hide their tops in the clouds:
rainy winter day.

Hot Springs [Haiku]

cool winter day:
clouds form thickly over
the hot springs.

Gray Day River [Haiku]

on a gray day,
a mournful river slows
almost to a stop.

Skirmish Line [Haiku]

rainclouds crawl nearer,
like a battle cruiser
 inching towards war.

After the Rain [Haiku]

after Spring rains,
 puddles throw reflections 
  of light-fringed clouds.

Jade Hills [Haiku]

clouds lift
to reveal jade hills:
Tah-Dahhhh!

Above the City [Haiku]

pleasant summer day:
 city-dwellers look up,
  and watch clouds drift.