Cups of Jade

The mists lie along the iris-purple valleys; The little wooden bridge, Where the waterfall rings its silver bells, Is a bow of darkness; The dust of the highway is gray as ashes under our feet; A cloud of night-birds Dots the orange sky.

All day our paths have led us side by side Along the steep hot highways. It is cool evening now, And the temple bells call you one way And the silence calls me another.

We come to the white door-posts of your house, We leave our dusty shoes beside the little pool among the iris leaves. We sit upon woven mats and you give me tea to drink From a cup of sea-green jade. Now is my tongue heavy with thoughts I cannot utter, For I know that to-morrow My path will not lead over the steep hill, Nor yours down to the deep valley, For we have drunk together from cups of sea-green jade.