Taking Leave of a Friend

blue mountains lie beyond the north wall;
round the city's eastern side flows the white river.
here we part, friend, once forever.
you go ten thousand miles drifting away
like an unrooted water-grass.
oh, the floating clouds and the thoughts of a wanderer!
oh, the sunset and the longing of an old friend!
we ride away from each other, waving our hands,
while our horses neigh softly, softly. . . . .

--Li Po

Radharani's face

Although the effulgence of the moon is brilliant initially at night,
in the daytime it fades away.
Similarly, although the lotus is beautiful during the daytime,
at night it closes.
But, O My friend,
the face of My most dear Srimati Radharani is always bright and beautiful,
both day and night
Therefore, to what can Her face be compared?

-(Vidagdha-madhava 5.20)


*Radharani is consort of Lord Krishna

Skylark

Skylark

sings all day,

and day not long enough.

-Basho

Mountain Drinking Song

To drown the ancient sorrows
we drank a hundred jugs of wine
there in the beautiful night.
We couldn’t go to bed with the moon so bright.

Then finally the wine overcame us
and we lay down on the empty mountain
the earth for a pillow,
and a blanket made of heaven.

--Li Po