2010-10-07

A cromulent interlude

A poem about the sangha from the Wakan rōeishū (和漢朗詠集), by Minamoto no Shitagō (源順):

観空浄侶心懸月
送老高僧首剃霜

Devouts who contemplate the void strive to bemoon their hearts;
Senior monks of greater years must shave frost from their heads.

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kevin:

"bemoon"? is that your translation? that's a very jarring word

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Matt:

You think? I dunno, reads cromulent enough to me.

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language hat:

Jarring? I call it delightful. And if you're concerned about pedigree, I call to your attention the London Review of 23 June 1866: "If you get bemooned on a shoemaker's holiday, you had best return home at once."

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