Li Po the Chinese Poet
��Anon, blowing yellow clouds miles upon miles, the wind
arises, And through the nine provinces white billows roll on
like mountains of snow.
��I love to make the song of Luh Shan.
Luh Shan is my joy and inspiration.
I gaze idly into the Stone Mirror to cleanse my soul,
Though the path Prince Shieh went is lost under deep
green moss. I've swallowed early the sacred pellet and forsaken all
worldly desires. Playing on the harp thrice over, I've attained the Way. I see genii amid the iridescent clouds afar, Going up to the celestial city with lotus in their hands. I shall meet the Illimitable above the ninth heaven, Then, with Lu-ao I hope to journey to the Great Void.
�� ��Luh Shan is a mountain near Kiu-kiang, Kiangsi.
When Confucius was visiting the land of Chu, a mad man named Tsu Yu passed him by, laughing and sing- ing, "0 phoenix bird, phoenix bird!" etc. The sage attempted in vain to have an interview with him.
The last stanza refers to the poet's Taoistic attain- ment and visions,
[162]
�� �
