There Is a Mountain, lyrics by Donovan Leitch

THERE IS A MOUNTAIN
Lyrics by Donovan Leitch

Look upon my garden gates a snail, that’s what it is.
Look upon my garden gates a snail, that’s what it is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
The caterpillar sheds its skin to find a butterfly within.
Caterpillar sheds its skin to find a butterfly within.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain.
Oh Juanita, oh Juanita, oh Juanita, I call your name.
For the snow will be a blinding sight to see as it lies on yonder hillside.
Look upon my garden gates a snail, that’s what it is.
Look upon my garden gates a snail, that’s what it is.
Caterpillar sheds its skin to find a butterfly within.
Caterpillar sheds it skin to find a butterfly within.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.

Photograph: “The Tetons and the Snake River” by Ansel Adams (1942)

Song: Listen to Donovan sing “There is a Mountain” here.

Note: According to Wikipedia, the lyrics to “There is a Mountain” refer to a Buddhist saying attributed to Qingyuan Weixin: Before I had studied Zen for thirty years, I saw mountains as mountains, and rivers as rivers. When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point where I saw that mountains are not mountains, and rivers are not rivers. But now that I have got its [Zen’s] very substance, I am at rest. For I see mountains once again as mountains, and rivers once again as rivers.

Zen Poem by Ikkyū

Zen Poem 
by Ikkyū (1394-1481)

Rain and hail, snow and ice
Are divided from one another;
But after they fall,
They are the same water
Of the stream in the valley. 

Photo: “Zen Snow” by Holly Garner-Jackson, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Read the poet’s Wikipedia biography here.

Cool Clay, poem by Gary Snyder

COOL CLAY
by Gary Snyder

In a swarm of yellowjackets
a squirrel drinks water
feet in the cool clay, head way down

Photo: Shirley Leighton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

“Cool Clay” is found in Gary Snyder‘s 2004 collection DANGER ON PEAKS, published by Shoemaker Hoard, available at Amazon.com.

Floating World, poem by Taigu Ryōkan

FLOATING WORLD
by Taigu Ryōkan

If the sleeves
of my black robe
were more ample
I’d shelter everyone
in this floating world. 

Photo: ”Gull feather & midnight sun, Nome, Alaska” from the postcard book: Sierra Club Nature in Close-Up. ©David Cavagnaro,1988, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Find the 160-page book at Amazon here.

Zen Yo-Yo, haiku by Tom Robbins

Zen Yo-Yo
by Tom Robbins 

Brown spider dangling
from a single strand.
Up down, up down: 
Zen yo-yo.

Photo: O. Takizawa, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Note: This haiku and several others appear in Wild Ducks Flying Backward: The Short Writings of Tom Robbins (Bantam, 2005).

Standup Comics, Poem by Gary Snyder

STANDUP COMICS
by Gary Snyder

A parking meter that won’t take coins
a giant sprinkler valve wheel chained and locked
a red and white fire hydrant
a young dandelion at the edge of the pavement

PHOTO: Elizabeth, Canada, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

“Standup Comics” appears in Gary Snyder‘s 2004 collection DANGER ON PEAKS, published by Shoemaker Hoard, available at Amazon.com.

Cool Clay, Poem by Gary Snyder

COOL CLAY
by Gary Snyder

In a swarm of yellowjackets
a squirrel drinks water
feet in the cool clay, head way down

Photo: Shirley Leighton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

“Cool Clay” is found in Gary Snyder‘s 2004 collection DANGER ON PEAKS, published by Shoemaker Hoard, available at Amazon.com.

Zen Poem by Ikkyū

Zen Poem 

by Ikkyū (1394-1481)

Rain and hail, snow and ice

Are divided from one another;

But after they fall,

They are the same water

Of the stream in the valley. 

Photo: “Zen Snow” by Holly Garner-Jackson, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Read the poet’s Wikipedia biography here.

There is a Mountain, Song Lyrics by Donovan Leitch

THERE IS A MOUNTAIN

Song Lyrics by Donovan Leitch

Look upon my garden gates a snail, that’s what it is.
Look upon my garden gates a snail, that’s what it is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
The caterpillar sheds its skin to find a butterfly within.
Caterpillar sheds its skin to find a butterfly within.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain.
Oh Juanita, oh Juanita, oh Juanita, I call your name.
For the snow will be a blinding sight to see as it lies on yonder hillside.
Look upon my garden gates a snail, that’s what it is.
Look upon my garden gates a snail, that’s what it is.
Caterpillar sheds its skin to find a butterfly within.
Caterpillar sheds it skin to find a butterfly within.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.

Photograph: “The Tetons and the Snake River” by Ansel Adams (1942)

Song: Listen to Donovan sing “There is a Mountain” here.

Note: According to Wikipedia, the lyrics refer to a Buddhist saying attributed to Qingyuan Weixin: Before I had studied Zen for thirty years, I saw mountains as mountains, and rivers as rivers. When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point where I saw that mountains are not mountains, and rivers are not rivers. But now that I have got its [Zen’s] very substance, I am at rest. For I see mountains once again as mountains, and rivers once again as rivers.

Floating World, Poem by Taigu Ryōkan

FLOATING WORLD

Poem by Taigu Ryōkan

If the sleeves

of my black robe

were more ample

I’d shelter everyone

in this floating world. 

Photo: ”Gull feather & midnight sun, Nome, Alaska” From the postcard book: Sierra Club Nature in Close-Up. ©David Cavagnaro,1988, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Find the 160-page book at Amazon here.