A Mortal Life, Born of One Thought · Stubborn and Foolish by Nature · 62 / 102
Zhexian Yuan · Heaven's Decree
The green lamp not yet burned to ash, the solitary heart shifts and becomes cool wind that wakes the spirit. Having passed through all the flowering and falling of the world's splendor, the allotted life of the soul tilts aslant, floating and sinking.
Where I stand is not illusion and yet seems illusion; my abiding wish is a thousand times true, ten thousand times true. Night rain dwindles away into sleep and dream; the drifting gossamer, ailing yet forcing itself on, grows dim and dim.
Glosses—
aslant (qī xié): tilted, leaning over;
abiding wish: the aspiration one has always held;
dwindles (lánshān): waning, falling away;
drifting gossamer: a figure for the workings of the mind;
forcing itself on: to act, and keep acting, while carrying an illness.
*This piece is an original work. If you repost it, please credit the original author Guang Zhi Shiyi; any infringement, once discovered, will be pursued to the full extent of the law. In addition, the accompanying illustration comes from the internet and belongs to its original artist, Hehewu.