The Fallen Angel

At first the Earth was vast and empty, without people 

Angels descended and greedily ate the richness of the earth 

Their bodies grew heavy and could not fly again, their wings were broken 

Thus humankind came to be on Earth, becoming our ancestors 

So my ancestors were fallen angels 

And I am no angel—

I am purebred human 

A descendant of fallen angels 

Having passed through life after life of transmigration 

Long ago I lost the name of angel 

Much less the angel's noble countenance and divine powers 

Therefore I too am fallen 

Why did the angels fall 

Only because they craved the flavors of the earth 

From then on they lived and multiplied upon the Earth 

At first their bodies were light as clouds, their minds free of desire, pure and clean 

Later, greed and craving gradually stained them, transforming them into male and female 

Thus there came to be descendants, generation after generation 

Generations multiplied into tribes, clans, families, and nations 

Thus there arose clan chiefs and kings and nobles to govern clans and states 

Human customs gradually became fixed and entrenched 

Plowing fields, weaving cloth, marriage and wedding rites—wealth, sensuality, fame, food, sleep 

Desire and defilement blaze fiercely, yet what is craved is no more than the things of the human world 

Imprisoned in this cage—when shall I be an angel again?