In Abbot Zan's Room at Dayun Temple: Four Poems (4)

 Boy draw water well shining
 Agile container rise hand
 Wet sprinkle not soak earth
 Sweep surpass like without broom
 Bright rosy clouds shining again pavilion
 Clear mist lift high window
 Lean fill cover path flower
 Dance end steps willow
 Difficulty world affair compel
 Hide away right time after
 Meet talk agree deep heart
 How can all restrain mouth
 Offer goodbye return cane riding crop
 Temporary part end turn head
 Vast expanse mud defile person
 Listen country many dogs
 Although not free yoke
 Sometimes come rest rush about
 Near you like white snow
 Grasp hot upset how be 


 The boy draws shining water from the well,
 He nimbly lifts the bucket to his hand.
 He sprinkles water without soaking the earth,
 And sweeps so well as if no broom had passed.
 The rosy dawn again lights the pagoda,
 The clearing mist lifts from the higher windows.
 Leaning blossoms cover over the path,
 Dancing willow leaves reach down to the steps.
 I'm driven by these troublesome affairs,
 Retirement from the world must be put off.
 We've met and talked, our deepest hearts agreeing,
 How can our mouths be forced completely shut?
 I say goodbye and fetch my riding crop,
 Parting for now, I turn my head at the last.
 There's so much mud that can defile a man,
 Just listen to all the dogs throughout the land.
 Although I cannot get free from this yoke,
 I'll sometimes come to rest from all the bustle.
 Your presence, Abbot, acts just like white snow,
 How can I be upset to grasp what's hot?

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