Poetry: Mountains and Waters

This poem accompanied the pastel painting above. It was painted by my partner, Renée Phillips, for a solo art show.

Mountains and Waters

Sitting beside the clear deep lake,
wind drives the clouds off the blue mountains—
I’ve forgotten what I just thought.
The meadow grass moves gently
through my empty mind
riding a red poppy.

My face will change with the years—
The blue mountains are constantly walking   
But we’ll sit together, the lake and me,
until only the lake remains—
    All mountains walk with their toes on all water and splash there.

* Inspired by The Mountain and Waters Sutra by Dögen Kigen (1240)

~ M. Wendy Haylett (c)2003