Mountains skate across crystal skies
Drag long fingers through silent, misty lakes
Catch sun rays in busy, meadow-lined pockets
Mountains are mountains
Mountains bathe in starry skies
Sneak through woods under moonlit nights
Whisper cold names through leafless trees
Mountains are mountains
Mountains ascend through heavy clouds
Spread worn quilts upon warm laps
Smile at thoughts of generous mountains
Mountains are mountains
Post Script
The title recalls a familiar Zen progression: mountains are mountains, then mountains are not mountains, and finally mountains are mountains again. It also shares Dōgen’s willingness to let mountains act rather than remain passive scenery. Here they skate, bathe, sneak, whisper, ascend and smile.
The refrain does not cancel those transformations. It returns each imaginative movement to plain recognition. Mountains do not become less wondrous by being simply mountains. Seen closely enough, their ordinary existence is already generous.
Primitive Joe 