Sage Upon the Mountain

A Poem From Another World

Sitting Alone by a Stream by Fan Kuan

Sage upon the mountain, seer beside the stream.
Each knows the world, neither knows the other.
Elixirs for eternal life, divinations from the heavens.
Both know your need, neither can assist you.

Stars change each night, fickle as the stream.
Heavens cast in shadow, doom for Earth below.
Men march for glory, women march for sorrow.
Children cry for mothers, mothers cry for husbands.

Sage upon the mountain, seer beside the stream.
Each knows the world, neither knows the other.
Men quest for wisdom, women quest for love.
None meet each other, none find their want.

Stars change each night, fickle as the stream.
Sage descending into valleys, seer venturing into wilds.
Each knows the world, neither knows the other.
Man and woman grieve, Heaven does not answer.

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This poem is one of several I have written for a long term fantasy project taking inspiration from Chinese history. The idea is the poems will serve as chapter intros and/or outros, making comment about events, people, locations, etc.