Buddhist Monk Poets of China

The Clouds Should Know Me By Now: Buddhist Poet Monks of China by Red Pine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are many layers to the poems in this book, more than I can appreciate with my current level of understanding, but even an examination only about two layers deep reveals a largely satisfying book. It's not entirely even, but I still found it mostly enjoyable.

Since these poems are written by buddhist monks, they naturally concern aspects of buddhist thought, and I have the most cursory understanding of such things. Simple phrases that I think I understand are explained in the notes to be significant in ways I wouldn't have thought. So that's the stuff I can't appreciate too much. It's like the grown-up jokes in the children's cartoons--just for those who understand.

What I love are the lines and poems about the wind in the trees and the clouds on the mountains, that kind of stuff. As monks, living mostly in mountain monasteries, they produce that sort of imagery a bunch. That's a level that works for me. And that imagery often corresponds to thoughts, dreams, reflections, and emotional states that also are perfectly comprehensible to anyone. That's my favorite.

Here's an example, from the poet Chia Tao, translated by Red Pine (one of the editors):

LATE IN THE DAY, GAZING OUT FROM A RIVER PAVILION

Water to the horizon
veils the base of clouds;
mountain mist
blurs the far village.

Returning to nest, birds
make tracks in the sand;
passing on the river, a boat
leaves no trace on the waves.

I gaze at the water
and know its gentle nature;
watch the mountains
until my spirit tires.

Though not yet ready
to leave off musing,
dusk falls,
and I return by horse.

It's not all lessons in zen. There is talk of war, loss, discouragement, and loneliness, but also joy and friendship and good times and drinking. These poets did their best to shake off the world, but all of them remain aware of it to one degree or another. These are normal people, recognizable in their emotional lives and hopes and dreams despite living, most of them, an ascetic life. There's plenty to connect to.

A number of different translators produced this work, and while they might all do a good job in their way, I receive them very differently. There are a few translators I don't much enjoy here, but there are others that I love. There are other books of poetry I enjoyed more (overall) than this one that I gave the same 4 stars to, but there's a short 5-star book inside this, and that influenced by ranking. :)

This is probably a better fit for those with a greater knowledge of and appreciation for buddhist teachings, but those who enjoy Tang Dynasty poetry--or later--will probably find their own 5-star selections from the book. So, this is recommended for those readers.

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