So what about Taishan?
From all round ever
blue.
Creation of the
Lord,
It splits the day in two.
Clouds ease a
troubled mind,
Far birds a
strain to view.
Each must one day ascend,
Look down on all, to do!
Night Moon
(literal)
This night Fu zhou moon
Chamber in only alone watch
Distant pity/love little son daughter
Not understand remember Chang an
Fragrant mist cloudy hair-bun damp
Bright splendour jade arm cold/needy
What time lean/rely empty curtain
Two shine tear mark dry
This moon at
home tonight
My wife must
watch alone.
I grieve for my
young ones
Who know not where
I’ve gone.
Damp mist, hair
fragrance lifts;
Cool moon, jade
arm falls on.
When will that
bright-lit pane
Shine on us both as one?
Nation
fallen, yet nature’s alive,
The city;
spring trees and grasses thrive.
For these
sad times the flowers they weep,
Being
apart, birds stir me deep.
The war
flames they’ll span three months soon;
Home news
is worth a small fortune.
My white
hair it’s torn out in vain,
Soon not to
hold even a pin.
Nation
fallen, yet nature’s alive,
City in
spring; grass
and trees bloom.
For these
sad times, the flowers they weep,
Being
apart, birds deepen my
gloom.
These war
flames ere will span three months;
Home news is
worth a small fortune.
My white
hair is torn
out in vain,
’Twill hold
not e’en a hairpin soon.
Thinking of My Brothers on a Moonlit Night
Watchtower drums interrupt travel,
Autumn Frontier - a lone goose’s call.
From tonight on the frosts will settle,
This moon’s as bright as it is back home.
My brothers, they’re scattered all over;
No home to ask of their fate at all.
Letters are slow to get wherever,
Besides, the war is not yet done.
Thinking
of Li Bai at the Tip of the Sky
Cool winds freshen at the tip of the
sky,
Good friend just what are you now
thinking?
Wild goose, when will it bring me your
news?
Rivers and lakes; by fall rains
swelling.
Literature shuns achievement of fame
Demons rejoice to see men passing.
You ought to speak with the wrong’ed soul,
Toss the Miluo lines for his keeping.
An Unexpected Guest
All around my house do
the spring waters flow;
Nothing do I see but a flock of gulls
daily.
Blossomed path has yet for guests needed sweeping;
Wicker gate opens for you - first time only.
Far from market food offers
little flavour;
This poor household wine is quite old and cloudy.
If you’d like to sit and
drink with my neighbour,
I’ll call through the fence
- we’ll down it completely.
Spring Night’s Welcome Rain
Good rain knows its best time;
Come spring
and it is there.
On breeze with night-time stealth;
Soaks all with quiet care.
Walkways are dark with cloud;
Bark light shines all the more.
Dawn breaks
all red and wet;
Blooms fill
the city fair.
News that the Imperial Army has Recaptured North and South of the River
Beyond the
pass – a fresh dispatch: the North has been retrieved,
When I
first hear, from happy tears my clothes become all wet.
I turn to
see my wife and kids; distress where has it gone?
Gathering
up poems and books delight
wants no curb yet.
Though heat
of day, singing a song, in wine I must indulge;
In green of
spring, joining my friends off
home we gladly set.
From Ba
Gorge here, leaving right now, through
Wu Gorge do we go,
Then down
on through old Xiangyang town to
A Night Traveller’s Thoughts
Soft grassy
bank in the night breeze wafts,
Alone
tonight, this tall mast
standing.
Stars cascade
down to the flat wide fields;
Moon rises
from the great course flowing.
Fame on its
own - what gets words noticed;
Old, sick
servants should be retiring.
Adrift in
life - just what am I now?
But a
seagull - purgatory; waiting.
Climbing High
Keen the
wind, high the clouds, apes call mournfully;
Pure the
isles, white the sand, birds
are wheeling home.
Boundless
the trees shed leaves - rustling
down to earth;
Endless the
Yangtze flows - rolling
on and on.
Journeys
long, autumns sad, always travelling;
Every year,
many ills, climbing this
alone.
Hardships
and regrets have frosted up my hair;
Wretched
now I have just given up the wine.
Meeting Li Guinian in the South
At Prince
Qi's palace I often saw you;
Before Cui
Jiu's hall I sometimes heard you.
Southern
scenery - is truly special;
As we meet
again here in life's autumn.