The Saga of Li Ning-yang

Li Ning-yang was a Holy man

Who studied the Daoist lore,

He lived in an older dynasty

But which, we’re not really sure,

He studied for immortality

And prayed to the heaven on high,

They sent Lao Tzu, and he said that: ‘You

Will learn of it, by and by!’

 

Ning-yang was favoured by fortune,

Was well looked on by the gods,

They said: ‘He’ll be an immortal

When he bows to the rules and rods,

He needs to study in Hua Shan

We’ll give him the gift to go,

We’ll raise him out of his body,

And give him a week or so.’

 

Ning-yang had a faithful disciple,

A student he called Lang Lin,

He left him in charge of his body

So no other soul could get in,

Ning-yang said ‘Give me just seven days

To inhabit my body again,

If I don’t return, then cremate me,

And scatter my poor remains.

 

Ning-yang flew off in the spirit

To study at Lao Tzu’s knee,

And all the while Lang Lin stood watch

And waited there patiently,

A messenger came that his mother was ill,

Was dying and needed a prayer,

So he burnt Ning-yang on the sixth day, after

He’d left his body there.

 

Ning-yang returned on the seventh day

To a pile of ash on the ground,

All that was left of his earthly form,

Lang Lin was not to be found,

He roamed abroad in the trees and ferns

Found a starving beggar, just dead,

And flew on in through his temples,

Took over his body instead.

 

He later found to his horror, then

That the head swept up to a point,

The face was black and the hair stuck out,

Too grim for the gods to annoint,

His eyes were as huge as saucers,

A look you could only despise,

The peasants laughed as he shuffled through

And christened him: ‘Hollow eyes!’

 

He sought to be rid of the body

But Lao Tzu cautioned him then,

‘You must remain in this body now

Or stay in the world of men.’

He travelled onward to see Lang Lin

The mother was not alive,

So he poured in a gourd of medicants

To her mouth, and saw her revive.

 

‘I’ve learned one lesson,’ he told Lang Lin,

‘A lesson that you should mind,

If ever you travel to Hua Shan

Don’t leave your body behind!’

The gods took pity on Li Ning-yang

A man who had never sinned,

So he disappeared in a puff of smoke

And was blown away by the wind.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Valentine]

Having lived in China..I expect you know a lot about their old time goings on..this was really a good tale..just goes to show family is more important than friends when the death angel calls..A pointed head and hollow eyes...hum..could have been a circus clown or dummy..Kathie

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Indeed, not a man of God as we know it, well done.

[TPK Stories]

Wonderful! I love stories about the different religions.

[Kenilo Kent]

Delightful!

[Adam Lebzo -RonninWarri..]

So beautiful! I lived in China and adore such tales!
marvelous and smooth, David

[Marc Marlon Villaflor]

Like the vivid imaginative oriental journey of the character...its addictive.

[keyvan]

beautiful

[Marie]

Nin-Yang made a mistake by leaving his body for so long...I'm glad he ended up as well as he did.
Lang Lin was unfaithful to his charge, and I think something sould have happened to him.

[quinfinn]

very clever and nicely done! you never fail to entertain and surprise....

[bboooyd]

The different world's in which your mind can reside is astounding. Do you research much to help with your ideas? Or is research and learning something that drives your poetry?
Another great story.