July 26th, 2018

At night deep in the mountains,
I sit in meditation
The affairs of people
Never reach here;
Everything is quiet and empty
All the incense
Has been swallowed up
By the endless night.
My robe has become
A garment of dew.
Unable to sleep
I walk out into the woods-
Suddenly,
Above the highest peak,
The full moon appears.

Ryokan Taigu (1758-1831)