Lyrics to "Immortal by the River: Cloud Crane"

I am a celestial wanderer from Penglai's mist,  

By chance tracing footprints in mortal dust.  

Green peaks tread through layers of jade waves—  

Oars chase the luminous moon,  

Hair unbound, I rest beneath winds through pines.  

A heart of compassion unites with the Great Dao—  

Why seek immortal sects in bitter toil?  

To pierce the red dust is to grasp the ultimate truth.  

Brushing robes, I return to vast emptiness,  

Spreading wings to merge with primordial chaos.  

Appreciation

This work adopts the perspective of a Taoist immortal, using imagery such as "celestial wanderer," "luminous moon," and "winds through pines" to evoke a carefree realm beyond earthly concerns. The latter stanza emphasizes harmony between compassionate intent and the Great Dao, asserting that "piercing the red dust reveals the ultimate truth," rendering deliberate quests for immortality unnecessary. The closing lines, "Brushing robes, I return to vast emptiness, “Spreading wings to merge with primordial chaos," employ the metaphor of soaring flight to symbolize a return to the formless origin. The ethereal language and transcendent imagery resonate deeply with Taoist ideals of natural simplicity and unity with the boundless.