I.

Dream of a Chinese Landscape (_A Screen by Soga Shubun_)

Mists are rolling Over the grey mountains, Over the quiet waters And marshy shores— Rolling up into valleys Where pagodas rise,— Rolling over slopes Along whose crests Monasteries dream. Wild geese soar Above the marshes In downward flight— In flight from unknown shore To unknown shore. Over all Mists are swaying.

The shadowy bridge And wandering roadway, The dark gnarled tree by the road And the pale tree afar, Are touched with doubtful mists Or emergent from lifting mists,— Trembling in mist; born of mist; shadows.... O mountains, shores, and streams! Beautiful transient illusion! Mortal world, dream world, Vanishing into mist, into mist only!