Wei Ying-Wu

737–792

In the Depths of West Mountain, Visiting the Master

A disciple for years at Twin-Stream,

what brings you to these mountains?

Great luminaries keep the world at war,

but your mind flowing-water idleness,

you swept tigers from forests, and now

sit alone, utter stillness. Guarding this

frontier, we double silence, wander

narrow passes where clouds are born.

Translated from the Chinese by David Hinton.