from Daughters of Emptiness: Poems of Chinese Buddhist Nuns

Living in Seclusion, Sitting in Silence

Living in seclusion, one can simply do as one
pleases,

With a single text, one can forget oneself for
a while.

The daylight hours—how much time is there
really?

Why then do I not exert myself?

Although the ancients are long gone,
their wisdom must still be grasped.

From the empty eaves, water keeps on
dripping,

From the censer, ashes fall marking the time.

This mood always brings me great pleasure,

As with both hands, I clasp my book tightly.

What a pity it is that ordinary people of the world
know not this intimacy with the words of
the wise!