Chapter 7 7

91 Oh, whisper to me, thy last consummation of life, death, my death! I am watching you every day; for you, I endure the joys and sorrows of life. All my being, all my possessions, all my hopes, and all my loves flow to you in deep secrets. Your tears give me last hope, and my life is yours forever. The garland has been made for the groom.The wedding is over, and the bride is about to leave home, to be alone with her master in the still night. 92 I know the day will come, when the world from my eyes fades away, and life silently bids me farewell, drawing the final curtain before my eyes.

But the stars will watch in the night, and the morning sun will still rise, and time is like the waves of the sea, stirring up joy and sorrow. When I think of the end of my time, the barriers of time are broken, and in the light of death I see your world and its abandoned treasures.The lowest seat is extremely rare, and the liveliest creature is also rare in the world. What I have sought and have not had and what I have had--let them pass by.Only let me really possess those things that I despised and neglected. 93 I have already asked for leave.Brethren, wish me a safe journey!I bow to you all and set off.

I give back the keys to my door—I give up all title to the house.I just ask for your last few kind words. We have been neighbors for a long time, but I take more and give less.Dawn is breaking now, and the light in my dark corner is out.The calling has come, and I am ready to go. 94 When I set off, wish me luck on my journey, my friends!The morning light is brilliant in the sky, and my future is beautiful. Don't ask me what to bring over there.I carry only empty hands and a wishing heart. I'm going to wear my wedding wreath.I was not wearing a reddish-brown suit, and although the passage was difficult, I had no fear in my heart.

At the end of the journey, the evening star will be born, and the melancholy music of evening will pop out from the gate of the palace. 95 When I first crossed the threshold of this life, I didn't realize it. What power makes me open in this boundless mystery, like a tender pistil, blooming in the forest in the middle of the night! When I woke up in the morning and saw the light, I immediately felt that I was not a stranger in this world, that the incomprehensible, the nameless, had taken me in its arms in the form of my own mother. And so, in death, the same unknowable will appear again in its familiar guise.Because I love this life, I know I will love death just as much.

When the mother took the right breast from the baby, he cried, but he was immediately comforted by the left breast. 96 Let this be my farewell word when I go, that what I have seen is unparalleled. I have tasted the hidden honey of the lotus that blooms on the sea of ​​light, so I am blessed - let this be my farewell. I have already played in this game room full of images, and here I have glimpsed him without image. I tremble with joy at the touch of his untouchable; if death comes here, let it come—let this be my farewell. 97 When I was playing games with you, I never asked who you were.I don't know shyness and fear, my life is bustling.

Come and wake me up in the morning, and run with me through the woods like my own companion. In those days, I never wanted to understand the meaning of the songs you sang to me.I just chime in and my heart dances to the tune. Now, the time of play is over, what is this scene that suddenly comes before me?The world looks down at your feet, and stands in awe with its silent stars. 98 I will adorn you with the prize of victory, the garland of my failures.Escape from being unconquered is something I will never be able to do. I know that my pride will hit a wall, my life will burst in agony, my empty heart will cry like a hollow reed, and the stone will melt into tears.

I know for sure that the petals of the lotus will not unite forever, but the nectar hidden deep will be revealed. From the blue sky there will be an eye staring at me, silently beckoning me.I will be nothing, absolutely nothing, I will receive absolute death from under your feet. 99 When I put down the helm, I know it's time for you to take over.What should be done is done immediately.Struggling is useless. Then take your hands away and silently admit defeat, my heart, to think that you are lucky to sit silently in your place. My lamps were blown out by a gust of wind, and in trying to light them again I repeatedly forgot all else.

I will be wise this time, and spread out my mat on the ground, and wait in the dark; when it pleases you, my lord, come quietly and sit down. 100 I dive into the depths of the ocean of images, hoping to get the pearl of imageless perfection. I no longer go round the harbor in my old boat; my days of enjoying the tide are long gone. Now I long to die in the undead. I will take up the harp of my life, and go into that great hall, beside the abyss, where the tuneless music pours out. I will pluck my strings in time to the eternal note, and when it whimpers its last sound, I will lay my silent harp at the feet of silence.

101 All my life I have sought you forever in poetry.They lead me from this door to that door, and I grope with them, seek, and touch my world. Poetry taught me all the lessons I have learned; they showed me the shortcut, they brought before my eyes the stars on the horizon of my heart. All day long they lead me to the mysterious lands of pain and pleasure, and at last, at dusk at the end of my journey, to what palace do they lead me? 102 I boast in front of people that I know you.In my work, they see your portrait and they come up and ask, "Who is he?" I don't know how to answer.I said, "Really, I can't tell." They berated me and walked away contemptuously.You sit there smiling.

I compose your deeds into immortal poetry.Secrets gushed out of my heart.They came to me and asked, "Tell us all about it." I didn't know how to answer.I said: "Oh, who knows what that means!" They laughed and walked away with extreme contempt.You sit there smiling. 103 In my obeisance to you, my God, let all my senses stretch out at your feet and touch the world. Like a wet cloud in July, drooping with unfallen raindrops, let my whole soul bow before your door in the midst of my prayers to you. Let all my poems, gathered in different tones, become a torrent in my worship to you, pouring into the silent sea.

Like a flock of homesick cranes flying to their nests day and night, while I pray to you with my palms together, let my whole life set off to return to its eternal hometown.