Categories: Pyramid Poetry
A Bird in a Secluded Grove
By: Fa-yen Wen-I
Founder of the House of Fa-yen
A bird in a secluded grove sings like a flute.
Willows sway gracefully with their golden threads.
The mountain valley grows the quieter as the clouds return.
A breeze brings along the fragrance of the apricot flowers.
For a whole day I have sat here encompassed by peace.
Till my mind is cleansed in and out of all cares and idle thoughts.
I wish to tell you how I feel, but words fail me.
If you come to this grove, we can compare notes.
(From The Golden Age of Zen by John C. H. Wu, pg. 179).
Topics: Books and Media, Letting Go, Poetry, Zen and Buddhism
Originally appeared in: September 1997