My boat awaits me along the river’s farther shore
When time comes to set sail, I’ll turn & gaze back once more
I don’t know how to say goodbye to these fine green hills
Parting from my friend on the mountain makes me sadder still
—Kao Ch’ih, Ming dynasty.
Translated by Gary Gach.
From the Spring 2015 issue of Inquiring Mind (Vol. 31, No. 2)
© 2015 Gary Gach
Translator and poet Gary Gach is editor of What Book!? Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop
(Parallax Press; American Book Award), author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Buddhism
(Alpha Books; second edition), and translator of three books of poetry by Ko Un, SSN. A teacher of Buddhism and haiku, he serves on the International Advisory Panel of The Buddhist Channel (http://buddhistchannel.tv). He hosts Mindfulness Fellowship weekly in San Francisco. Visit www.levity.com/interbeing. Chinese poet Kao Ch’ih lived and wrote in the Ming dynasty.
Translator and poet Gary Gach is editor of What Book!? Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop
(Parallax Press; American Book Award), author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Buddhism
(Alpha Books; second edition), and translator of three books of poetry by Ko Un, SSN. A teacher of Buddhism and haiku, he serves on the International Advisory Panel of The Buddhist Channel (http://buddhistchannel.tv). He hosts Mindfulness Fellowship weekly in San Francisco. Visit www.levity.com/interbeing. Chinese poet Kao Ch’ih lived and wrote in the Ming dynasty.
