Subtle River, Subtle Moon
Subtle River flows
carrying the entire world
like the Grand Tortoise
of ancient memory
carrying the Earth on
its back through empty
space until coming to
rest here in the Milky Way
circling a golden Sun
like a prayer
before a Humble God
frail and no longer devout
Subtle Moon rides
the gravity horse of Earth
like the Mystic Maiden
of mountain hermit
plucking tea walking
with back to the wind
with nowhere to go
with nothing better to do
perhaps further into wonder
perhaps return to clean robe
perhaps humble Subtle Moon
is the one lasting devotion
-- Robert Daniel Smith
Subtle River flows
carrying the entire world
like the Grand Tortoise
of ancient memory
carrying the Earth on
its back through empty
space until coming to
rest here in the Milky Way
circling a golden Sun
like a prayer
before a Humble God
frail and no longer devout
Subtle Moon rides
the gravity horse of Earth
like the Mystic Maiden
of mountain hermit
plucking tea walking
with back to the wind
with nowhere to go
with nothing better to do
perhaps further into wonder
perhaps return to clean robe
perhaps humble Subtle Moon
is the one lasting devotion
-- Robert Daniel Smith