Leaving It to You
by Wu Pen (Chia Tao) (779-843)
Self evident, truth mistakes no thing.
But my heart's a long way from there
and nothing's very clear.
Yellow gold is almost burned up
by my desire.
White hair grows beside the fire.
Bitter indecision: choose This, or maybe That.
Even the spirit speaks in riddles
and makes it hard to harvest
the essence of a single day.
Catch the wind while you tether shadows.
Faith, or a man who'll stand by his word, is
all there is. There is no disputing.
English translation by J.P. Seaton
from The Poetry of Zen
edited by Sam Hamill and J.P. Seaton
from The Poetry of Zen
edited by Sam Hamill and J.P. Seaton
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