The Mountain Poems of Stonehouse - Red Pine

\n \nWinner of the 2015 Washington State Book Award in Poetry Translation\n \nThe Mountain Poems of Stonehouse is] a tough-spirited book of enlightened free verse.--Kyoto Journal\n \nThe Zen master and mountain hermit Stonehouse--considered one of the greatest Chinese Buddhist poets--used poetry as his medium of instruction. Near the end of his life, monks asked him to record what he found of interest on his mountain; Stonehouse delivered to them hundreds of poems and an admonition: Do not to try singing these poems. Only if you sit on them will they do you any good.\n \nNewly revised, with the Chinese originals and Red Pine's abundant commentary and notes, The Mountain Poems of Stonehouse is an essential volume for Zen students, readers of Asian literature, and all who love the outdoors.\n \nAfter eating I dust off a boulder and sleep \nand after sleeping I go for a walk \non a cloudy late summer day \nan oriole sings from a sapling \nbriefly enjoying the season \njoyfully singing out its heart \ntrue happiness is right here \nwhy chase an empty name\n \nStonehouse was born in 1272 in Changshu, China, and took his name from a cave at the edge of town. He became a highly respected dharma master in the Zen Buddhist tradition.\n \nRed Pine is one of the world's leading translators of Chinese poetry. Every time I translate a book of poems, he writes, I learn a new way of dancing. And the music has to be Chinese. He lives near Seattle, Washington.\n \n