No yarrow stalks? A handful of hay
will do just as well. Cast. Your fate
is scrawled in the dust.
Nine at the beginning means:
You let your magic tortoise go
And look at me with the corners of your mouth drooping
Misfortune
Not encouraging, to be clobbered
by a flipping coin
but it’s no use wailing about it.
Through the corners of the mouth
food and drink come in
words go out.
Watch them carefully.
--I Ching translation by Richard Wilhelm
--for Poefusion
Collection available! Knocking from Inside
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Hexagram 27: The Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment)
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4 comments:
Excellent write. I'm still trying to learn I Ching from the books on my shelf. This has inspired me to take another look. Have a nice day.
What on earth do they mean by a magic tortoise? The mind boggles! It works well in this poem though - I particularly like the double meaning of "flipping". And the last verse is very wise!
intriguing poem, the corners of the mouth,
are almost as telling as our eyes.
I thought that I had found my way to the center of the Invisible Labyrinth; and I had — perhaps — discovered no more than the entrance. Watch my dust.... There is no walking backwards, and I am lost in the Labyrinth Invisible. I cannot retrace my steps. I wrote my name on the wall of the Invisible Labyrinth. I was so diligent in my studies; gave my whole time and heart to the pursuit. I wrote my name but I can find it no longer; My ashes blow like dust around the Invisible Labyrinth.
Watch my dust...
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