Hard is the Journey

Portrait of Li Po
Li Po 701–762

Gold vessels of fine wines, thousands a gallon, Jade dishes of rare meats, costing more thousands,

I lay my chopsticks down, no more can banquet, I draw my sword and stare wildly about me:

Ice bars my way to cross the Yellow River, Snows from dark skies to climb the T'ai-hang mountains!

At peace I drop a hook into a brooklet, At once I'm in a boat but sailing sunward...

(Hard is the journey, Hard is the journey, So many turnings, And now where am I?)

So when a breeze breaks waves, bringing fair weather, I set a cloud for sails, cross the blue oceans!

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