Poetry Friday: The other new year

You know it's been awhile when you almost forget the name of your blog!

I don't know where the time has gone. This month was, as usual, the month of fasting for Baha'is, where we abstained from eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset for 19 days. It's described as outwardly toilsome and difficult, inwardly it is bounty and tranquillity. And at the end of it all marked the Baha'i new year or Naw-Ruz, which began the evening of the 20th of March. Down in Australia it's approaching the dregs of summer, but the spirit of the new year is probably the closest to spring.

To keep things brief so that I might actually finish a post this week, I share a poem I came across by a Chinese poet named Shishu. There isn't much known about his poems or the poet himself, except for perhaps being a Buddhist monk.

"nothing to do; nothing to lose"

"nothing to do; nothing to lose"
among the flowers, darkening clouds
above the pines, a sinking sun
spring deepens with urgent birdcalls
autumn declines to the cries of insects
dawn: darkness wrapped in darkness
this, the end of every quest.

I think I just like the imagery, and imagining myself watching the change of seasons and the quietness of nature. This week's Poetry Friday is being hosted by Rebecca over at Sloth Reads who talks about the role of play in our lives (and not just as children!)


Have a great weekend. x