The Foam-White Stream, after Li Po

 The Foam-White Stream

After Li Po 

I came at dawn to the source of the Foam-White Stream, 
     And there on the breast of the lonely mountain lay   
Watching a thousand beautiful islands gleam 
In their green and gold, and the blue of eternal dream 
     On the world-wide waters sparkling far away.

I watched the seaward white clouds drifting sail,
     Cloud by shining cloud through the sunlit blue, 
Each swiftly aglint, as a huge and silvery whale, 
Or dragon, flashing in silvern glitter of mail
     The blue and foam of his native waters through.

My song, that was loud at noon, at dusk fell low,
     And died when the stars shone white o’er the wane of day;
And I came from the moonlit mountain, hushed and slow,
Hungry at heart for the homely lights aglow 
     Under the eaves of the cottagers, far away.

The Theosophical Path, August 1918