Friday, July 31, 2015

The World's Long Wind

Oh! that gentleness! how far more potent is it than force!
~Charlotte Brontë


When I'm feeling tired of how unkind, judgmental, and righteous people are on the Internet, poetry can be a nice antidote.

Here are old posts with peace poems, peace prayer, peace art, acts of kindness, more acts of kindness, and Buddha.

Wind
by Su Tung-po (1036—1101)

The rigging whines in the sky
    as we pitch and heel.
The boatman’s sound asleep
    though the waves bloom white.

Those mooring-lines
    must understand how I feel :
Weak in the world’s long wind,
    yet holding tight.

*******

Keri has the Poetry Friday round-up today.

10 comments:

Heidi Mordhorst said...

As always, a lovely choice, and what a fine, modern translation. You picked the best phrase for your title, but I also love "the waves bloom white." It fits your mood very well, too.

Tara said...

I needed to read your post today, Tabatha. We are, after all, and all of us:
Weak in the world’s long wind,
yet holding tight.

Linda B said...

Tara took my words, Tabatha. The poem is lovely, and moreso that it was written so very long ago. Now we have a thought for that poet and his poem. That's special.

Joyce Ray said...

Su Tung-Po's poems speaks to me, Tabatha, as I just experienced pitching and healing and waves blooming white! I love that image of waves blooming. The line about thee "world's long wind" is so descriptive of where we are, I feel. The tension, the challenges and struggles go on and on with no break, yet somehow we hold tight.

Perhaps the Buddha's poem offers one of the ways to hold tight:

"the fragrance of goodness
travels with us
through all the worlds."

Thanks for all of your peace offerings today!

Charles Waters said...

Well, that poem described my life, and I'm probably not the only one. Excellent choice, Tabatha. Hey, I was curious, how do I get to be a part of the Summer Poem Swap. I'd love to participate.

Tabatha said...

Hi Charles! I always post on my blog about the swaps. I post about the summer swap in the spring, and the winter swap in the fall. All you have to do is email me to sign up.

Diane Mayr said...

I love the ancient Asian poets, they have the power to reduce words and images to the essentials. Keep "holding tight," Tabatha.

Irene Latham said...

Yes, Tabatha, "holding tight!" Winds will forever come, won't they? Thanks for linking to these older posts. xo

Keri said...

You are a treasure for helping us to hold on, though the winds blow. xoxo

Matt Forrest Esenwine said...

As others have said, this is so touching - and the last 2 lines are perfect. Thanks for sharing, Tabatha!