Beside the recluse path a skeleton scattered through
jade tangles. I want to feel something. A lament.
But other feelings rise. Envy, filtered through
curiosity. What thoughts cloud its mind?
~~~
Saffron butterfly leads my eyes through sun drenched mulberries
into an empty dream scape. A skeleton sits with me. Aloud,
I wonder if it misses anything. A deep hole stare unfurls,
and unfurls, and then a walk off. My eyes follow white into
black, back under mulberry green. The butterfly has flown
to worlds new. The sun has gone behind cloud drift ridges.
~~~
By Dragon Bend river a skull lost in idleness. I
feel sorrow for all it cannot enjoy. Down stream
rapids cause me worry for my raft creaks with
the moments of ten thousand voyages. The skull just stares.
~~~
First image found here: http://www.art-virtue.com/painting/history/yuan/yuan.htm
Second image found here: http://www.taoistic.com/chuangtzu/index.htm
Third image found here: http://rivr.sulekha.com/chuang-tzu-perspectives_61880_blog
Golden Giraffes Riding Scarlet Flamingos Through The Desert of Forever 
I love how the space between the couplets looks along with the art. And this is beautiful: “Saffron butterfly leads my eyes through sun drenched mulberries
into an empty dream scape. A skeleton sits with me”. Do the images just accompany the poems, or did you write starting from them?
Thank you for the comment.
I write the poems first, and then I find pictures to fit. It’s just something that works for me.
Dreamt I read some lines of poetry, a stream of thought bubbling by. But then again, it could be memories of another life, or daydreams at the Master’s feet…..
Reality is approximate, and this is a fine example. The ghost of Chuang Tzu would smile, the Old Man: raise and eyebrow then nod curtly….job done.
an unforgettable poetic voyage. i’ve been completely swept away. thank you~~
Beautiful writing. I especially loved this:
A deep hole stare unfurls,
and unfurls, and then a walk off.
But really, the whole thing is just entrancing.
beautiful flow in your lines… I loved how you used brings us deeper into the piece
some really beautiful imagery…particularly the butterfly…the skull staring at me though is leaving me a bit disconcerted….
Entrancing is the best way to put it, thanks to Emily’s comment (before that I was grasping for words). Outstanding.
Particularly beautiful close here. k.
Reality and dreams juxtaposed…a little Daliesque w. the skull…Always beautifully wrought, Sky…and your art fits so well. This is one I’ll read again. :)) xoxo
wonderfully threaded…loved the saffron butterfly…
This is a new favorite of mine from you, incredible imagery, mystery, enchantment.
Enchanting.
Anna :o]
You know I was just thinking about when you first started your blog. Your work was awesome them, but it’s taken such a wonderful shape. More and more fantastic each day my dear friend. There is such a wonderful calm in these words, like a soothing cup of tea (and you know how I feel about tea).
Firstly, many thanks for all your comments. I’ll reply to them all, honestly.
You know, thinking about it, I finally focused on a single form. I occasionally deviate, but I always come back to this four line (give or take two) form more often that not.