Madly Singing in the Mountains
~ Po Chu-I
Translated from Chinese by Arthur Waley

There is no one among men that has not a special failing;
And my failing consists in writing verses.
I have broken away from the thousand ties of life;
But this infirmity still remains behind.
Each time that I look at a fine landscape,
Each time that I meet a loved friend,
I raised my voice and recite a stanza of poetry
And marvel as though a God had crossed my path.
Ever since the day I was banished to Xunyang
Half my time I have lived among the hills.
And often, when I have finished a new poem,
Alone I climb the road to the Eastern Rock.
I lean my body on the banks of White Stone;
I pull down with my hands a green cassia branch.
My mad singing startles the valleys and hills;
The apes and birds all come to peep.
Fearing to become a laughing-stock to the world,
I choose a place that is unfrequented by men.

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for December 16, 2016:
Active Influence: Hrungnir/Seven of Wands
Rune: Os/The God Voice
Hidden Influence: Asvid/The Hierophant

While the contentious Sisters of the Five of Wands took today off, Their pal Hrungnir shows up with His brand of querulous energies. Don’t challenge Gods to riddle contests. Don’t get drunk at a party. Don’t get into a fight with someone bigger and stronger than you.

Those things aside, you may find yourself in an unequal battle with inadequate tools against an adversary who has stacked the odds against you. If you must fight, use all of the tools available to you, enlist those who can help to join your cause, and do your best.

Os appears (again) reminding you that you need to listen. Many arguments can be avoided if you take time to hear what’s really going on, rather than taking things at face value and/or making assumptions. Os is associated with Loki, so perhaps eloquence can help you through this difficult day—or perhaps it’s a warning not to take someone at their word. It is certainly not a recommendation to engage in trickery—that’s not going to have the desired results.

Asvid urges you to operate from your best, authentic self today. Heed the wisdom of others who have walked your path. They may have helpful suggestions to solving your problems—or at least really good advice about what doesn’t work. You don’t know everything, so be willing to learn.

My Baby Has No Name Yet
~ Kim Nam-jo
Translated from Korean by Ko Won

My baby has no name yet;
like a new-born chick or puppy,
my baby is not named yet.

What numberless texts I examined
at dawn and night and evening over again!
But not one character did I find
which is as lovely as the child.

Starry fields of the sky,
or heap of pearls in the depth.
Where can the name be found, how can I?

My baby has no name yet;
like an unnamed bluebird or white flowers
from the farthest land for the first,
I have no name for this baby of ours.

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for December 15, 2016:
Active Influence: Kolga/Six of Cups
Rune: Gar/The Unknown
Hidden Influence: Mordgud/Judgment

Some part of your emotional past is thawing, and feelings long-forgotten (or perhaps never acknowledged or expressed) rise to the surface. Mordgud tells you that you must deal with your stuff, because your stuff is going to deal with you. Gar brings in Odin’s energies, poetry and magic and sacrifice. You can’t predict what’s going to happen, and you don’t actually need to know. Do your work, and let the Universe do its part. Don’t make the Universe wait for you to catch up—you won’t like the results.

A simple poem, yet breathtaking in its imagery.

Men in the City
~ Alfonsina Storni
Translated from Spanish by Rachel Benson

The woods of the horizon
are on fire;
eluding flames,
the swift blue bucks
of twilight
cross.

Little golden goats
migrate toward
the vault
and recline
on the blue moss.

Below,
the city
rises up,
a cement rose,
motionless on its stem
of dark cellars.

Its black pistils—
towers, cupolas—
emerge,
waiting for lunar pollen.

Suffocated
by the flames of the fire
and lost
among the petals of the rose
almost invisible,
crossing back and forth
the men . . . .