Listening to the Nightingale Singing:
Listening to the nightingale singing
among the flowers
or to the cry of the frog
which dwells in the water,
we recognize the truth
that of all living things
there is not one
which does not utter song.
BY KI TSURAYUKI
The Dream Keeper
Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
BY Langston Hughes
"Hope" is the thing with feathers
"Hope" is the thing with feathers-
That perches in the soul-
And sings the tune without the words-
And never stops-at all-
And sweetest-in the Gale-is heard-
And sore must be the storm-
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm-
I’ve heard it in the chillest land-
And on the strangest Sea-
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb-of Me.
BY EMILY DICKINSON
FRIENDSHIP
I greet the highest in you.
Your goodness walks in from of me.
Your gentleness bids me good day.
Your laughter raises me to joyfulness.
Your quietness leads me away.
A Ute Poem
Taking Leave of a Friend
Blue mountains to the north of the walls,
White river winding about them;
Here we must make separation
And go out through a thousand miles
of dead grass.
Mind like a floating wide cloud,
Sunset like the parting of old acquaintances
Who bow over their clasped hands at a distance.
Our horses neigh to each other
as we are departing.
BY Li Po (Translated from the Chinese by Ezra Pound)
Friend
Walking with you
shuts off shivering.
Here we are.
Here we are.
I am with you to share and to bear
and to care.
This is warm.
I want you happy, I want you warm.
Your Friend for our forever is what I am.
Your Friend in thorough thankfulness.
It is the evening of our love.
Evening is hale and whole.
Evening shall not go out.
Evening is comforting flame.
Evening is comforting flame.
BY Gwendolyn Brooks
