Observations placeholder
Li Po - Hard is the Journey
Identifier
016736
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Allegorically the journey of life
A description of the experience
From Li Po and Tu Fu Poems – translated and with an introduction by Arthur Cooper [Penguin classics]
Hard is the Journey by Li Po
Gold vessels of fine wines,
thousands a gallon,
Jade dishes of rare meats,
costing more thousands,
I lay my chopsticks down,
no more can banquet,
I draw my sword and stare
wildly about me:
Ice bars my way to cross
the Yellow River,
Snows from dark skies to climb
the T'ai-hang mountains!
At peace I drop a hook
into a brooklet,
At once I'm in a boat
but sailing sunward...
(Hard is the journey,
Hard is the journey,
So many turnings,
And now where am I?)
So when a breeze breaks waves,
bringing fair weather,
I set a cloud for sails,
cross the blue oceans!
The source of the experience
Li PoConcepts, symbols and science items
Symbols
BoatScience Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Commonsteps
References
