Monkey and I are watching a sea of clouds

rise and whirl and dance around the peaks

and crags of Huangshan – disappearing

and appearing as if called into existence

on the whim of an invisible sky magician.

Hundreds who have trekked in darkness

to witness the sunrise are leaving the mountain.

I revel in the cool, moist air swirling around me,

accept the gift of being lifted by the clouds,

release this self from the body, and let it flow

across ancient stones, among branches of pines.

Mist shines on the rhododendron, and the scent

of juniper pierces the air. A single black bird

dips toward the distant babble of voices below,

then rises toward Beginning to Believe Peak.

Carolyn Locke of Troy teaches English at Mount View High School. This poem is one of a series that grew out of her visit to China on a study tour with the Primary Source organization. “Monkey” is a cosmic teacher and trickster character in the 16th century Chinese novel “Journey to the West.” The last stanza of this poem is a skillful English rendering of imagery used in classical Chinese poetry.