Chinese Mountain Man V: The Foggy Trail

A sage and his disciple stood

Before a foggy mountain trail:

They thought about their lives and all

The mysteries of earth’s dark veil.

“I long to make discoveries,

I long to know the truth of things;

To capture wisdom of my own—

And all the joy such treasure brings.”

The young man shared his true desires,

The reason he shed all those tears,

But as the alpine heights grew dim,

The boy began to voice new fears.

“Master, I think we might be lost,

Not far behind, I think I hear

The sound of many savage beasts—

And I’m afraid we’re not safe here.”

The master turned towards the youth,

“The mountain woods resound with songs

And music of another world,”

He said, “You’ll surely hear new sounds.

“But he who seeks truth must become

Truly a friend of the unknown;

Among the dark and unfamiliar things

Must set his hearth and make his home.”

The master turned around and smiled,

“Here wise men have their sacred rites.”

And there, deep in that darkened wood,

They trekked for many many nights.

David Gosselin is a poet, translator, and linguist based in Montreal. He is the founder of The Chained Muse poetry website and the founder of the New Lyre Podcast. His first collection of poems is entitled Modern Dreams.