Institutional Panic Speech

 Beneath the ancient banyan's shade, pressed against the hill, I sit and brood,
 When sunlight blazes forth in laughter, my sorrow drifts and floats in flood.
 Looking down, I see nature reveling wild today,
 At that playful river's bend, a strange flute calls to me. What enchantment!
  
 The waterfall races in pearls of water, stones weep to the wind's beat,
 Spreading like a serpent's body, the path loses itself at distant shores.
 The lake will drink all that water—what song will it play there?
 Thus evening descends down the mountain, and this ancient night awakens.
  
 In crimson twilight's glow, melancholy spreads its shroud,
 Under the weight of trees the mountain shifts, night stirs in fireflies' offerings.
 Silence's melody plays, mist adorns its chariot,
 In night's shadow the world awakens in the frost-crone's white radiance.
  
 On wings of wind-arrows sacred sounds come floating,
 That tune spreads leaf by leaf, merging with the sky above.
 The traveler suddenly stops to wonder—in night's form, who quickens life?
 Heart floats, body laughs, night's fragrance mingles, losing the way to that land.
  
 In night-princess's festival, the house of the dead calls to me,
 Joy is lost, sorrow spreads through this body, this heart.
 In darkness's light, shadow's body dances like a lost song.
 The sun rises, spreads darkness. Who would have thought the sun could be such an enemy?
  
 From this corner to that corner, dawn chasing midnight in the mind,
 The eyes' light grows dim, yet the hill country's rhythm deepens the pain.
 In this infinity I wander fiercely,
 Understanding through tears: "There is no happiness!"
  
 What meaning does it all hold? Leaf-huts, crumbling palaces, motionless hills?
 Color dissolves, enchantment spreads, catches the eye, sways the gaze—all deception!
 At the river's bend the forest becomes stone, sowing seeds of solitude.
 Because that one 'you' is absent, everything empty in what semblance!
  
 Sun rises, sun sets. Moon rises, moon sets.
 What comes and goes? Here I am, just as before!
 Let them rise and fall, laugh and weep—who cares?
 Whether I glimpse light or not, let this darkness remain beside me.
  
 My sky drowns in darkness, another sky floats in light.
 Sun-lord, listen to what I say: "When everyone became friends, how did I become the enemy?"
 Weary with body's weight, I'm not walking, I'm dragging too much.
 Otherwise I would have long since found my dream within this very self!
  
 I see the world as vast, while I remain diminished,
 I am a traveler in sorrow's desert, clinging only to emptiness.
 Near and far, mine and others'—I can let go of everything,
 Even when time runs out, I'll remain so—I'll leave home empty-handed.
  
 If I find blessing's fountain, I'll quench all thirst,
 Finding love and joy, I'll build that home—this is my hope!
 There lies my true address, I wander dying to live there.
 My heart will find peace in that nameless shelter. That is living!
  
 In the sun-god's mercy I will go to that you,
 In everything of love I'll share my portion, my divine share.
 In exile, in solitude, in hidden rooms—how much longer?
 I won't stay in this other island's fold anymore—empty give, empty take, at whose signal?
  
 In autumn days, wandering new kingdoms of decay,
 Becoming friend to fallen leaves, floating in dim light's breeze
 I'll fly laughing. Is this life? Pale leaves' pale life! This is just like dying!
 O southern wind, I will be your companion. Carry me in fierce storms—if I survive, I'll live intensely!