The White Swan

I set out on the longest road

To seek the answers from Death

I set out to the black sacred stream

to seek out and shoot a white swan



On desolate and stony paths

From a mountain to a vale

I reached the shore and saw it come

Into my view, the swan



I took the arrow and raised my bow

I aimed below the graceful neck

Under the white of its breast

Inside the red of its heart



The surface of the river calm and black

Reflects the sky, the pale moon

And there a glimpse caught of myself

I'm shattered, the vision is ruined



An arrow from the water

A serpent rips my mind

Into the black river of Death

With a slash across my heart



My last sight a white swan

Behind the swan a starless sky

Under the sky a coal black river

Reflected a bone white moon