November 11^th, 2023

At dawn I wandered to visit a famous mountain.
The mountain was far, set in blue mists of sky,
Its swelling vapors covered a hundred miles,
And I just arrived as the sun went down.

I heard a bell’s sound at valley’s mouth,
By wood’s edge recognized incense in the air.
So staff in hand, I sought my old friend,
Ungirthed my saddle, and halted my mount for a while.

By the gate of stone a sheer ravine falls off sharply,
And the path through bamboo grew darker, deeper.
Dharma’s companion rejoices meeting me,
In speculative discussion we do not sleep.