Home-dyed blue muslin and cranberry thread
stubby fingers advance a millimeter
something something Shakyamuni
eyes cloud over, hands shake
Promising, with thin fabric, to make promises to herself, she takes up the unaccustomed needle. Sew a straight line to represent walking a straight path.
Though there is no space even for needle to enter,
Yet it controls all the mountain peaks around.
It is not unusual for a tiny particle to contain the whole world.
Mt Sumeru enters into a mustard seed and becomes one with it.
-- Songs of Preceptor Naong (1320–1376) tr. Whitfield and Park