Wang Wei

Many of us have marveled at the sound and fury of a natural wonder such as Niagara Falls. What about the placid world beneath the surface?

Here’s a poem for your consideration by Wang Wei (699–759), Chinese poet, musician, painter, and politician of the middle Tang dynasty.

A White Turtle Under A Waterfall

The waterfall on South Mountain hits the rocks,
tosses back its foam with terrifying thunder,
blotting out even face-to-face talk.
Collapsing water and bouncing foam soak blue moss.
old moss so thick
it drowns the spring grass.
Animals are hushed.
Birds fly but don’t sing
yet a white turtle plays on the pool’s sand floor
under riotous spray,
sliding about with the torrents.
The people of the land are benevolent.
No angling or net fishing.
The white turtle lives out its life, naturally.
--Wang Wei