Knowledge, the pearl

When I was walking through the river shore, 

My heart filled with deep sorrow. 

I looked at the greenery, seeking calm, 

Then turned to the river and began to throw stones. 

After some time, 

I noticed a box floating through the river. 

I took it with my hands and tried  

With a stone to open it. 

I thought it was a pearl, 

But inside, I found some papers. 

My sorrow grew even more. 

Instead of the stone, 

I threw the papers into the river. 

And they flowed away with the water. 

I walked more forward, 

Yet nothing diminished my sadness. 

Tears overflowed from my eyes, 

And my face turned red. 

I went to a scholar, as people say, 

And explained to him about what happened. 

“Bring it back — it holds power to help you; 

It is a pearl,” the scholar said. 

I hurried back to the shore again, 

But I was too late. 

My eyes filled with tears, 

And like a shadow, my sorrow returned to me.