Yes, I think those couplets are a great match. They show how Chu was trying to be respectful of the poem Gao wrote, and to create something with very similar tone and content. They both introduce these supernatural terms to suggest that their experience climbing the tower was something quite out of the ordinary.
I just love the Gao Shi line because it's so relatable. He climbs up somewhere high, stands on top, and yells, "I'm king of the world!" In the poem he's heightened the language by throwing in the supernatural idea, but the underlying impulse, the fact that being up high made him feel like a king, is so touching and normal. It makes me want to hug him.
How have you been, man? You know, out of all the people from school I lost touch with, you were always the one I hoped I’d stumble across again one day. You physically in China? Drop me an email if you like: wily dot jonathan at gmail dot com. (I’ve seen people adopt this format, presumably to avoid webscrapers or something?)
I need to reference that. Thank you!
Back to back home runs!
High-fives all around.
The catcher spits into the dust as the hurler leaves the mound.
Oh so sorry, but your last two posts: inspiring.
These are the compelling lines I took from the first poem, Gao’ and then from the second by Chu’.
Gao
“Or I perhaps am now a king
Of every seen and unseen thing:
I’ve left the mortal sphere.”
Chu
From sky to earth, a single glance
Takes in the world’s impermanence
Inspires me to stay and find
The universal truths of mind
That monks below us sing.
Me
Thank you for the great background and for the analysis.
Yes, I think those couplets are a great match. They show how Chu was trying to be respectful of the poem Gao wrote, and to create something with very similar tone and content. They both introduce these supernatural terms to suggest that their experience climbing the tower was something quite out of the ordinary.
I just love the Gao Shi line because it's so relatable. He climbs up somewhere high, stands on top, and yells, "I'm king of the world!" In the poem he's heightened the language by throwing in the supernatural idea, but the underlying impulse, the fact that being up high made him feel like a king, is so touching and normal. It makes me want to hug him.
You are right as usual.
Not a bad homage, but I agree that the original rings true in a more authentic manner.
Your comment reminds me of a guy standing at the prow of a titanic ship and screaming out into the world.
But the Tang poets were doing that many years prior. And men have always done that down through the years. It’s a primal urge.
Hi Phil!
Nice poem. I particularly liked
“a low-rise sprawl,
A scattered crumpling.”
How have you been, man? You know, out of all the people from school I lost touch with, you were always the one I hoped I’d stumble across again one day. You physically in China? Drop me an email if you like: wily dot jonathan at gmail dot com. (I’ve seen people adopt this format, presumably to avoid webscrapers or something?)
E'd and mailed! Check your spam filter
Did you get my replies (to the email)?