Up here it's almost as though
we stand astride the sky
a fierce wind
never ceases blowing
and since we human beings
are never free from fear
climbing this high may well
stir up a few new terrors
this religion teaches
that the external world
needs to be distrusted
if ever we're going to know peace...
we peer through the carved reliefs
depicting serpents and dragons
impressed by all the supports and beams
that hold up this pagoda
Overhead I can count
the seven stars of the Dipper
and imagine I hear the noise
of the Milky Way as it flows
the sun's been pushed below
the westernmost horizon
a clear autumn moon
is trying to rise in the east
because of clouds we see only
shreds of the great mountain
the clear river and the muddy one
mix together and are lost
down below you can't see much
because of all the mist
how can we even be sure
that this is our great empire?
Facing the sad and misty grave
of the great Emperor Shun
I call on him to wake
but that isn't going to happen
the Fairy Queen who might help
is off by the Jade Lake
drowning her sorrows in drink
watching another sunset
the yellow cranes depart
I think they won't return
we hear thier plaintive calls
where can they find shelter?
and those geese we watched fly off
into the setting sun?
each one of them was searching
for some food.