Plum Village Band: Little Star | Featuring Born I and Brother Phap Huu

Today,

the kingdom

of Heaven

held a festival

for thousands of stars.

I went up to that kingdom,

knelt down and prayed

that the anguish,

the killing,

the disaster

in our poor land would end.

Where have you been, little star?

I've been looking for you everywhere.

Out of my window

among the dark clouds.

Where have you been, little star?

I feel so forlorn

like a small bird

lost on a foggy island.

It has been raining for nights.

Late night on the sidewalk,

I see the silhouettes of lonely, wet forms.

I've tried to call your image from deep in my consciousness

while the rain and the wind continue to rage.

Tonight as I bend over my desk,

my head in my two hands.

The wind has carried all the clouds away.

The sky is clear, the rain has stopped,

longing for your call.

I'm surprised to see you there.

You have returned,

little stars.

I've been looking at the stars in the distance.

I've been looking in my heart for resistance.

I've been searching in the self for existence.

All alone by myself, reminiscent.

Underneath the Bodhi tree, but it isn't only me.

You and I collective energy how it's s’posed to be.

I hope to be the ocean tide,

with my spirit open wide,

standing on a mountaintop,

see the world with open eyes.

I was so surprised to know that I'm a part of this.

Sunrise, sunset, rain clouds, all of it.

The journey of awakening.

Taking it with one step, one breath.

Save all being till there's none left.

Suffering is painful,

but I'm still the same fool

searching for the river while I'm swimming in the same pool.

Maybe we can find it keep the light shining.

Walking on the path of ancestors behind me.

If you could be the person who you are in your heart,

would you grow a little bit

or would you play a bigger part.

Love is a paintbrush.

Life is the biggest art.

And I'm still the same kid

wishing on a little star.

Love is a paintbrush.

Life is the biggest art.

And I'm still the same kid wishing on a little star.

Where have you been, little star?

I've been looking for you everywhere,

out of my window,

among the dark clouds.

Where have you been, little star?

I feel so forlorn,

like a small bird

lost on a foggy island.

It has been raining for nights.

Late night on the sidewalk,

I see the silhouettes of lonely, wet forms.

I've tried to call you image

from deep in my consciousness,

while the rain and the wind continue to rage.

Dear little star, you have been through

such storms, rain, and wind.

For how long and on what strange land

have you been weeping?

You've come back. Your little body,

still shivers with cold.

With tears in your eyes,

you recalled.

You've been praying for our homeland.

Your voice has reached the stars

transformed to teardrops.

Trembling in the air.

I'm sending deep thanks to

countless little stars.

With diamond-strong faith,

you are like flowers,

blooming everywhere.

My little star, you are back home.

With tears in my eyes, I call your name,

and feel the warmth

in my heart.