ALONG THE ROAD PAST SHANGSHAN THERE WAS A LONE PINE TO WHICH SOMEONE TOOK AN AXE FOR MORE LIGHT. A KIND PERSON TOOK PITY AND BUILT A BAMBOO FENCE AROUND WHAT REMAINED, AND IT RESPONDED WITH NEW GROWTH. MOVED, I WROTE THIS POEM by Liu Tsung-yuan

A lone pine shaded a rest stop with green
putting down roots beside a dirt road
it didn’t need to guard against the heights
it was injured for the sake of more light
luckily a kindhearted person came along
surrounding it with a fence
part of its heart survived
enough to feel the rain and dew

translated by Red Pine

2 thoughts on “ALONG THE ROAD PAST SHANGSHAN THERE WAS A LONE PINE TO WHICH SOMEONE TOOK AN AXE FOR MORE LIGHT. A KIND PERSON TOOK PITY AND BUILT A BAMBOO FENCE AROUND WHAT REMAINED, AND IT RESPONDED WITH NEW GROWTH. MOVED, I WROTE THIS POEM by Liu Tsung-yuan

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