One Thought, a Mortal Life · Above and Below, All Connected · 75 / 102
· A Dream Within a Dream
Under the tree the white ants gather the light of the years; the flowers' tears fall in a fluster. This self should have been a wanderer at ease, yet it falls silent, sunk beneath a thousand frosts. The cloud-heights go off with the migrating birds; half a cup, and I am lost to dissipation.
Brows and eyes can still hold a wide, dimpled smile — a painting in bright colors, treasured away. The dream chases a hollow world until the worldly heart breaks off; for two or three coins I see through to the heart's last inch. I give it all to today's and the clean scent of green plums.
Glosses—
white ants (pí fú): another name for the termite;
a thousand frosts: a thousand years; a way of describing a long stretch of time;
painting in bright colors (yǎn huà): a picture in vivid, brilliant color.
*This piece is an original work. If you repost it, please credit the original author Shixi Lin; 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.