Han Shan

Ninth century

My old landlady

got rich a couple years ago.

Used to be poorer than me.

Now she laughs that I don’t have money.

She laughs that I’ve fallen behind.

I laugh that she’s gotten ahead.

Both of us laughing, no stopping us.

Lady of the Land, and the Lord of the West.

Translated from the Chinese by J. P. Seaton.