Observations placeholder
The Ai shi ming (哀時命 "Alas That My Lot Was Not Cast")
Identifier
010770
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
The "Ai shi ming" (哀時命 "Alas That My Lot Was Not Cast") .
Far and forlorn, with no hope of return:
Sadly I gaze in the distance, over the empty plain.
Below, I fish in the valley streamlet;
Above, I seek out [僊] holy hermits.
I enter into friendship with Red Pine;
I join Wang Qiao as his companion. We send the Xiao Yang in front to guide us;
The White Tiger runs back and forth in attendance.
Floating on the cloud and mist, we enter the dim height of heaven;
Riding on the white deer we sport and take our pleasure. tr. Hawkes 1985:266)