The Old Fisherman: II by Su Shih (Su Tung-p’o)

When the fisherman’s drunk, his straw cloak dances,
searching through drunkenness to find the way home.
Light skiff, the short oars akimbo:
and when he wakes up he never knows where.

translated by J.P. Seaton

2 thoughts on “The Old Fisherman: II by Su Shih (Su Tung-p’o)

    • I think those ancient fishermen who spent so much time alone in their small boats had cause to drink themselves senseless when finally on shore. Then, owing to dumb luck, they let the boat take them wherever it would.

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