The Pivot of My Heart

Japanese Art

 I sit beneath the cliff, quiet and alone. 

Round moon in the middle of the sky’s a bird ablaze:
all things are seen mere shadows in its brilliance,
that single wheel of perfect light… 

Alone, its spirit naturally comes clear.
Swallowed in emptiness in this cave of darkest mystery,
because of the finger pointing, I saw the moon. 

That moon became the pivot of my heart. 

 (Han Shan)