this sentimental romance --
My Song of Contemplation,
Which is about the incident waves,
A gentle gesture, a maiden's head
Elegant rotation amid the delicate scent
Of resinous sap moistening the cedar cones
And sleep-glued buds of the red pines
And everlasting game of the northern lights
Bounded off from its own reflection
On the slick of a deep blue glaze
To a half of its full satisfaction
Till the rare day break. . . And though
I have sung away this Song of mine
Time and again, what remains in the end
Is not the fascinating romance
Of my fleeting life's contemplation.
96
It Takes Time
In the garments of a king, it will bite
And tear them and will not be satisfied
Till it has got rid of them altogether.
If you look at the difference between
The past and the present time, it seems
As great as that between the monkey
And the king. I hate to tell you that but
In the same way, those who think
That wealth is the proper thing for them
Cannot give up their revenues.
Those who seek distinction cannot give up
The thought of fame; those who cleave
To power cannot give the handle of it
To any other authorities. While they hold
Their grasp of those things, they're deadly afraid
Of losing them. When they let them go,
They are grieved and they will not look
At a single example, from which they might
Perceive the silliness of their reckless pursuits;
They are under the doom of inevitable collapse.
Hatred and kindness, taking and giving,
Reproof and instruction, death and life. . .
These eight things are means of rectification,
But only those who are able to use them duly
Do not refuse to comply with their changes.
Hence, it is said, "Rectification of Names,
Personalities and Conducts," when the minds
Of some persons do not acknowledge
This simple appropriateness; and it’s because
The gate of awareness in them has not been
Opened yet. Well, it takes time to put things right.
* * * * *
About the Author
Alex Stone is the pen-name of Alexander Goldstein, a graduate of the Far-Eastern University in Sinology, lived and worked in mainland China for a period as a translator/interpreter, a manager, and a martial arts' practitioner. A certified instructor of 'Chang-quan' (external-style boxing) and 'Taiji-quan' (internal-style boxing), he is a lecturer of Chinese culture and traditions at the Open University in Tel-Aviv. He also is the constructionist of Lao-zi's "Dao-De Jing," the commentator of "Zen (Chan) Masters' Paradoxes," "The Illustrated Canon of Chen Family Taiji-quan," a Chinese novel and some other editions, which are available in print and electronic publishing at most online retailers published in English, Spanish and Russian. What makes his books so appealing is profound analysis and authority, with which various strains of the vigorous Chinese culture are woven into a clear and useful piece of guidance for a business person who conducts the affairs with far-eastern counterparties and for a counsellor who develops strategies that enable leaders to position their organisations in the Asia-Pacific region effectively.
The Canon of Grand Triad (Tai Xuan Jing): Oracular Values of Heaven, Earth and Man
Decoding of the "Lao-zi" (Dao-De Jing): Numerological Resonance of the Canon's Structure
Monks, Beasts & Dreams on Heavenly Terrace
Taste of Hanshan (Cold Mountain)
Yi Jing: the True Images of the Circular Changes (Zhou Yi) Completed by the Four Sages
Strategic Thinking and Stratagemical Thoughts in China
Ancient Wisdom, Management and Negotiations in China
Deciphering the 36 Chinese Stratagems
From 001 to 100: One Hundred Poems Completed by Alexander Goldstein
The Fifty Odes
and others.
Connect with Alexander Online:
AuthorsDen: https://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?id=129491