My body

Through a mountain where small shrubs abound

flows a river.

Along its banks, branches of trees

running with sap lean over

and touch the water’s surface.

The fruit, tasting richly of ginger,

break open their fine skins

and put forth their seeds.

Water spills from the hollows

in the rocks, and cascades from the edge of cliffs.

A tiger, replete from its kill,

wets its blood-smeared mouth

at the swift water-streams.

As it climbs down, scarlet ash scatters

from a volcano’s gaping mouth.

A vortex, whirling clockwise,

agitates the earth. The day’s heat

dissolves into the night’s coolness.

In the end, Nature becomes

my body, lying still.