Read the following poems with the eye of an academic reader. Select one to comment on. In your comment address how the poetry relates to Taoism. (this necessitates that you explain Taoism as you understand it.) Select a specific line(s) that demonstrate your conclusion. For the poem that you select indicate when the writer composed his/her poem and how this may or may not be important or relative to the poem's content.
FIRST POEM SELECTION;
Vision
by Elizabeth Reninger
Go out after midnight
with the sky trembling
in snowy light --
each star holding its filament
of desire. Merge
your mind with the spiraling
galaxies -- with a movement so
large only Your
heart can encompass it.
Drop your prayer into the ear
of God. Write a poem to help
her hear it.
Notice the moon grow
more distant and
diffuse -- Reappear
as your Beloved
looking out through eyes
vast as a Winter
Sky...
SECOND POEM SELECTION:
Stone Gate Temple in the Blue Field Mountains
by Wang Wei
Creeks and summits are brilliant at sunset.
I laze in a boat, my way in the wind's hands.
Watching wild landscapes I forget distance
and come to the water's edge.
Gazing at lovely far woods and clouds
I guess I've lost my way.
How could I know this lucid stream
would turn, leading me into mountains?
I abandon my boat, pick up a light staff
and come upon something wonderful,
four or five old monks in contemplation,
enjoying the shade of pines and cypresses.
Before the forest dawns they read Sanskrit.
Their nightly meditation quiets the peaks.
Here even shepherd boys know the Dao.
Woodcutters bring in worldly news.
They sleep at night in the woods
with incense, on mats clean as jade.
Their robes are steeped in valley fragrances;
the stone cliffs shine under a mountain moon.
I fear I will lose this refuge forever
so at daybreak I fix it in my mind.
People of Peach Tree Spring goodbye.
I'll be back when flowers turn red.
(If in your exploration, you find a poem you would like to share or other thoughts, please include them in a separate comment and we will discuss it.)
**EMMA**
ReplyDeleteI chose poem two, because I feel it had a better connection to Taoism. It was also easier to find these connections to Taoism in the second poem rather than in the first.
The title of the second poem is, "Stone Gate Temple in the blue Field Mountains." This poem was written by Wang Wei. When I first began reading this poem, the first three sets of lines caught my attention as well as helped me trigger a connection between what the poem was saying and Taoism.
The first three set of line were, "Creeks and summits are brilliant at sunset. I laze in a boat, my way in the wind's hands. Watching wild landscapes I forget distance and come to the water's edge. Gazing at lovely far woods and clouds I guess I've lost my way." This part of the poem connects to Taoism, because it explains how one would be in the "Taoism-state." For you to be in the Taoism state you must be able to lose yourself in order to gain the strength to "find yourself" as well as your place in the world. This is what Taoism is all about. It's about peace and tranquility. For instance, regarding the Wu Wei, the basic meaning of this it that in order to overcome force the Wu Wei neutralizes its power rather than by adding to the conflict or stress of it all.
As I finish reading the poem, I realize the writer almost gives me the "all the time in the world" menatlity of himself as he lazes in a boat along the river; loosing track of time and direction. Then he comes to land and picks up a stick and just goes for a long walk, where he finds four or five old monks contemplating over something in the shade of trees. The writer makes life seem so effortless just like Taoism does.
Wang Wei wrote this poem sometime in 750 where he began to write, paint, and meditate after retiring from a full career of the court. This to me seems relative to the poem, because he is speaking about his adventures and observations. I took this into consideration and figured that if he was observing monks etc. Than this poem must be pretty old along with its author. This can also seem not relative, because it could be a writer using his imagination and knowledge of history to create a dreamlike story that relates to pastimes.
Very insightful, Emma. I like the fact that you are very specific about your thoughts--you quote the passage both directly and indirectly. That strengthens your writing. You also explain yourself rather than just leaving a statement to hold its own weight. I look forward to working with you on other ways to strengthen the start of your writing. Keep up your good work. Know that I can usually be found if you need someone to bounce an idea off.
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