Clear in Hindsight

crow-in-snow

In the past, when I began to study Zen,
it was all a mistake.

Wandering through numberless
mountains and rivers,
I wanted to find
something to know.

It’s all clear in hindsight.

Having learned this,
what do I have?

Release a crow into the night
and it flies
flecked with snow.

– Dayang Jingxuan

Dayang Jingxuan lived in the 10th century. Thank you to Whiskey River for bringing this poem to my attention.

2 Replies to “Clear in Hindsight”

  1. Hello there, Deb!

    I was browsing through the poetry section just now,
    and something you have here caught my attention.

    If the crow has heard the “all clear”,
    then why is it still perched on my head?

    Uncle Tree

    http://me2watson.wordpress.com/

  2. Uncle Tree, one of many questions for which there are many answers…

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