LXXX

IN THE MOUNTAINS AS AUTUMN BEGINS

Cold air drains down from the peaks.

Frost lies all around my cabin.

The trees are bare. Weak sunlight

Shines in my window. The pond

Is full and still. The water

Is motionless. I watch the

Gibbons gather fallen fruit.

All night I hear the deer stamping

In the dry leaves. My old harp

Soothes all my trouble away.

The clear voice of the waterfall

In the night accompanies my playing.

WEN T’ING YEN