White Cloud Nursery (by Bai Juyi)

After a break of a few weeks I returned to my translation practice this morning, picking up where I left off with one of my all-time favorites, Bai Juyi.

Up in the plains of Heaven

Above the mountaintops where

White clouds spring to life

To speak of what comes forth

Without the least effort

Flowing naturally as from

The soul at rest

Never rushing

Nor hurtling headlong

Against the mountains

Down below

Being continually replenished

A tidal wave from heaven

That sweeps towards earth

白云泉

白居易

天平山上白云泉

云自无心水自闲

何必奔冲山下去

更添波浪向人间

There's a short backstory to explain why I chose this poem to translate this morning.  During my spin through Twitter this morning I came across a striking photo of what looked like a new galaxy being born.   The photo (which was posted by @GeneVatow ) was accompanied by a brief explanation: We came out of warp in the star nursery, and saw the fledgling stars' birthing glow. An hour or so later as I was looking through Bai Juyi's collected works, the title of this poem leapt out at me, as being a Tang precursor of the same vision - a glimpse into the nebulous origins of the universe - not a bad way to start the day after all.