I and The Bird
I, and the bird,
And the wind together,
Sang a supplication
In the winter weather.
The bird sang for sunshine,
And the trees for winter fruit,
And for love in the spring time
When the thickets shoot.
And I sang for patience
When the teardrops start;
Clean hands and clear eyes,
And a faithful heart.
—Arthur C. Benson.
By Li-Shang-Lin
Walk and touch peace every moment.
Walk and touch happiness every moment.
Each step brings a fresh breeze.
Each step makes a flower bloom.
Kiss the Earth with your feet.
Bring the Earth your love and happiness.
The Earth will be safe
when we feel safe in ourselves.
– Thich Nhat Hahn
The Truth
The Truth — is stirless –
Other force — may be presumed to move –
This — then — is best for confidence –
When oldest Cedars swerve –And Oaks untwist their fists –
And Mountains — feeble — lean –
How excellent a Body, that
Stands without a Bone –How vigorous a Force
That holds without a Prop –
Truth stays Herself — and every man
That trusts Her — boldly up –
I am one
Who eats his breakfast,
Gazing at the morning-glories.– Basho
This is what you should do: love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men … re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss what insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem.
All the birds have flown up and gone;
A lonely cloud floats leisurely by.
We never tire of looking at each other –
Only the mountain and I.
Li Po
