It's Still Life

A Gushi Wuyan Style Poem

Bend of the road ahead,
shadows dissolve in air.
One tree leans toward silence,
clouds drift without return.

The path forgets its start,
grass leans against the wind.
I walk, not asking where,
only the sky replies.

Note: this poem is written in the Wuyan (五言) style, an ancient form of Chinese verse. Wuyan literally means “five words,” reflecting its origin in classical poetry composed of five characters per line. The style, especially in its freer gushi (古诗, ancient-style verse, which this is) form, favours imagery, rhythm, and suggestion over strict rhyme or meter. Often used for landscapes, travel, and meditation, Wuyan poems distill experience into spare, vivid lines that leave space for silence and reflection. (ref: Wikipedia)