Roaming 闲游
危亭题竹粉, wēi tíng tí zhú fěn,
曲沼嗅荷花。 qū zhǎo xiù hé huā。
数日同携酒, shǔ;shù;shuò rì tóng;tòng xié jiǔ,
平明不在家。 píng míng bù zài jiā。
寻幽殊未极, xún yōu shū wèi jí,
得句总堪夸。 dé;děi;de jù zǒng kān kuā。
强下西楼去, qiáng;qiǎng xià xī lóu qù,
西楼倚暮霞。 xī lóu yǐ mù xiá。
On the lofty tower I scrape some words on bamboo
The winding rivers assails me with the smell of rotting lotus
For several days I went out drinking with friends
On moonlit evenings I wasn’t at home
To seek strange things and never finish
To seek the words and always exaggerate
Forced to descend from the Western tower
I see it lean into rosy clouds, a higher power
Qinghe River 清河
舟小回仍数, zhōu xiǎo huí réng shǔ;shù;shuò,
楼危凭亦频。 lóu wēi píng yì pín。
燕来从及社, yàn lái cóng;zòng;cōng jí shè,
蝶舞太侵晨。 dié wǔ tài qīn chén。
绛雪除烦后, jiāng xuě chú fán hòu,
霜梅取味新。 shuāng méi qǔ wèi xīn。
年华无一事, nián huá wú yī shì,
只是自伤春。 zhǐ shì zì shāng chūn。
The small boats frequently return
I often lean from the tower’s scary heights
The swallow obeys the Spring Goddess
Too early, the butterfly dances, invades the morning
Crimson ice dispels one’s troubles
Frosted peaches gather fresh tastes
In all the world there’s just one troublesome thing
That is, the worries I receive in the Spring
Moon 月
池上与桥边, chí shàng yǔ qiáo biān,
难忘复可怜。 nán wàng fù kě lián。
帘开最明夜, lián kāi zuì míng yè,
簟卷已凉天。 diàn juǎn;juàn yǐ liáng tiān。
流处水花急, liú chù;chǔ shuǐ huā jí,
吐时云叶鲜。 tǔ shí yún yè xiān。
姮娥无粉黛, héng é wú fěn dài,
只是逞婵娟。 zhǐ shì chěng chán juān。
Above the pool and by the bridge
Unforgettable, pitied again and again
The curtain opens, and you light up the night
The mats are rolled up, it’s already cold
You wash over the water, pressing flower upon flower
You burst out and moisten clouds grouped like leaves
Chang E[1] has no makeup
Just a lovely, lovely face.
The Cloud Goddess of Qiliang 齐梁晴云
缓逐烟波起, huǎn zhú yān bō qǐ,
如妒柳绵飘。 rú dù liǔ mián piāo。
故临飞阁度, gù lín fēi dū;gé dù,
欲入回陂销。 yù rù huí pō;pí xiāo。
萦歌怜画扇, yíng gē lián huà shàn;shān,
敞景弄柔条。 chǎng jǐng nòng;lòng róu tiáo。
更奈天南位, gèng;gēng nài tiān nán wèi,
牛渚宿残宵。 niú zhǔ sù;xiǔ cán xiāo。
Unhurried, rising with the waves
As though envious of the willow’s swaying, silky floss
From soaring over the pavilions
Then diving into the gulley
The arching sounds of song sway with the painted fans
The Cloud Goddess grasps the willow’s leaves
One must pity the Southern Heavens,
The Herd Boy[2] rests the remainder of the night.
Limerick 俳谐
短顾何由遂, duǎn;duān gù hé yóu suì,
迟光且莫惊。 chí guāng qiě mò jīng。
莺能歌子夜, yīng néng gē zǐ yè,
蝶解舞宫城。 dié jiě wǔ gōng chéng。
柳讶眉双浅, liǔ yà méi shuāng qiǎn,
桃猜粉太轻。 táo cāi fěn tài qīng。
年华有情状, nián huá yǒu qíng zhuàng,
吾岂怯平生。 wú qǐ qiè píng shēng。
Looking quickly around, I ask whence the right path?
In this evening light, all seems serene
At midnight the warbler can sing
Set free, the palace butterflies dance
The willow’s eyebrows are both startled at the smallest slight
The blush on the peaches[3] is a little too light
As long as time presents me with such conditions
I won’t be cowardly when it comes to life’s mission!
Lotus 荷花
都无色可并, dōu;dū wú sè kě bìng,
不奈此香何。 bù nài cǐ xiāng hé。
瑶席乘凉设, yáo xí chéng liáng shè,
金羁落晚过。 jīn jī luò;lào;là wǎn guò。
回衾灯照绮, huí qīn dēng zhào qǐ,
渡袜水沾罗。 dù wà shuǐ zhān luó;luō。
预想前秋别, yù xiǎng qián qiū biè;bié,
离居梦棹歌。 lí;róu jū mèng zhuō gē。
Everything pales next to your color
One cannot bear how sweet you smell
The Yao mat is placed in a cool place
The golden reins fall back as the night passes
Heading back, the lamp reveals the silk quilt
Socks moistened by the demon of the water[4] crossing
I think of Autumn after you have bid farewell
When I will dream of you rowing, and the songs you tell.
A Gift of a Lotus 赠荷花
世间花叶不相伦, shì jiān huā yè bù xiàng;xiāng lún,
花入金盆叶作尘。 huā rù jīn pén yè zuò chén。
惟有绿荷红菡萏, wéi yǒu lǜ hè;hé hóng hàn dàn,
卷舒开合任天真。 juǎn;juàn shū kāi hé;gé rèn tiān zhēn。
此花此叶常相映, cǐ huā cǐ yè cháng xiàng;xiāng yìng,
翠减红衰愁杀人。 cuì jiǎn hóng shuāi;cuī chóu shā rén。
In all the world the lotus flower and leaf are beyond compare
The flower sinks into golden bowls[5], the leaves turn to dust
Unique the green lotus and its scarlet buds that grow
So naturally, curling up or opening just so
This flower and this leaf shine as if cheek to cheek
One’s heart breaks when the green fades and the red decays.
The Palace of Emperor Chen – Two Poems 陈后宫
玄武开新苑, xuán wǔ kāi xīn yuàn,
龙舟宴幸频。 lóng zhōu yàn xìng pín。
渚莲参法驾, zhǔ lián cān;shān;shēn fǎ jià,
沙鸟犯句陈。 shā niǎo fàn jù chén。
寿献金茎露, shòu xiàn jīn jīng lù;lòu,
歌翻玉树尘。 gē fān yù shù chén。
夜来江令醉, yè lái jiāng lìng zuì,
别诏宿临春。 biè;bié zhào sù;xiǔ lín chūn。
Poem 1
On Xuanwu Lake the new garden unfolds
The dragon boat often hosts banquets for the fortunate
The lotus entices the Imperial carriage driver
The sandgull disobeys the Chen Palace rules
Golden hands and arms rise with the gift of long life[6]
The sound of music shakes dust off the jade trees
Jiang Ling gets drunk when night arrives
The Emperor orders him to sleep in the Spring Pavilion
茂苑城如画,mào yuàn chéng rú huà,
阊门瓦欲流。chāng mén wǎ yù liú。
还依水光殿,hái;huán yī shuǐ guāng diàn,
更起月华楼。gèng;gēng qǐ yuè huá lóu。
侵夜鸾开镜,qīn yè luán kāi jìng,
迎冬雉献裘。yíng dōng zhì xiàn qiú。
从臣皆半醉,cóng;zòng;cōng chén jiē bàn zuì,
天子正无愁。tiān zǐ zhèng;zhēng wú chóu。
Poem 2
The city’s luxuriant garden is like a painting
The heavenly gates flow like a mirage
Water shines by the temple
Moonlight rises over the towers
Night invades the Phoenix mirror[7]
In winter, the pheasant fur coat is welcomed
All the nobles, half drunk, are hosted
The Emperor truly has nothing to worry about!
Eastwards with the Soldiers 隋师东
东征日调万黄金, dōng zhēng rì diào wàn huáng jīn,
几竭中原买斗心。 jǐ;jī jié zhōng yuán mǎi dòu;dǒu xīn。
军令未闻诛马谡, jūn lìng wèi wén zhū mǎ sù,
捷书惟是报孙歆。 jié shū wéi shì bào sūn xīn。
但须鸑鷟巢阿阁, dàn xū yuè zhuó cháo ā;ē dū;gé,
岂假鸱鸮在泮林。 qǐ jiǎ;jià chī xiāo zài pàn lín。
可惜前朝玄菟郡, kě xī qián cháo;zhāo xuán tù jùn,
积骸成莽阵云深。jī hái chéng mǎng zhèn yún shēn。
The Eastern Expedition[8] daily spends ten thousand gold pieces
Almost emptying the Central Plains, getting souls for sale
The edicts were ignorant of the tale of General Masu
Glorious reports were as false as those of Sun Xin
But when the Phoenix and the Luan must nest by the Wooded Pavilion
How can one let the owls roost in the groundskeeper’s tree’s[9]?
Pity the story of the Han court’s Xuantu garrisons,
Beneath frowning clouds, piles of bones formed stinking grass!
The Fifth Poem Which, At The Tianping Banquet, Was Presented To Official Ling Hu, Stationed At Caijing And Who Studied The Scriptures In The Capital 天平公座中呈令狐令公,时蔡京在坐,京曾为僧徒,故有第五句
罢执霓旌上醮坛, bà;ba zhí ní jīng shàng jiào tán,
慢妆娇树水晶盘。 màn zhuāng jiāo shù shuǐ jīng pán。
更深欲诉蛾眉敛, gēng shēn yù sù;xīn é méi liǎn,
衣薄临醒玉艳寒。 yì;yī bò;báo;bó lín xǐng yù yàn hán。
白足禅僧思败道, bái zú chán;shàn sēng sī bài dào,
青袍御史拟休官。 qīng páo yù shǐ nǐ xiū guān。
虽然同是将军客, suī rán tóng;tòng shì jiāng jūn kè,
不敢公然子细看。 bù gǎn gōng rán zǐ xì kàn。
She does not hold the rainbow[10] banner above the sacred alter
Rather the crystal bowl, with light makeup, like a Jade tree with a gentle manner
How one wants to urge Miss Moth Eyebrows[11] to hold back still
Her face wan, when she wakes in her thin clothes, as if feeling a chill
He whose feet were always unsullied abandoned the scriptures
Donned the green robes, and made the Imperial Censor[12] his future
Although soldiers and guests are the officials with whom he serves
He can be quite brazen, and for her sake, he keenly observes!
A Spring Day 春日
欲入卢家白玉堂, yù rù lú jiā bái yù táng,
新春催破舞衣裳。 xīn chūn cuī pò wǔ yī cháng。
蝶衔红蕊蜂衔粉, dié xián hóng ruǐ fēng xián fěn,
共助青楼一日忙。 gòng zhù qīng lóu yī rì máng。
To enter the white jade hall of the Lu Family[13]
This New Year[14], one quickly makes a dancing skirt
The butterfly tends to its flowers, pollen is gathered by the bee
Today , all this helps make the Green Tower quite busy and alert!
Passion 闺情
红露花房白蜜脾, hóng lù;lòu huā fáng bái mì pí,
黄蜂紫蝶两参差。 huáng fēng zǐ dié liǎng cēn cī。
春窗一觉风流梦, chūn chuāng yī jiào fēng liú mèng,
却是同袍不得知。 què shì tóng páo bù dé zhī。
The scarlet flower emerges, a white honeycomb
The golden bee and the purple butterfly hovering light and free
Before the curtain the spring[15] wind flows through my dreams
Yet where is the hug or embrace, that I do not know!
The Radiance of Spring 春光
日日春光斗日光, rì rì chūn guāng dòu;dǒu rì guāng,
山城斜路杏花香。 shān chéng xié lù xìng huā xiāng。
几时心绪浑无事, jǐ shí xīn xù hún wú shì,
得及游丝百尺长? dé;děi;de jí yóu sī bǎi chǐ;chě cháng;zhǎng?
The radiance of spring tussles with sunlight,day after day
The scent of apricots, a road that slants over the mountain city
When my heart is full of meaningless things
Can the trembling gossamer
travel one hundred chi
So far?
Judging Spring 判春
一桃复一李, yī táo fù yī lǐ,
井上占年芳。 jǐng shàng zhàn;zhān nián fāng。
笑处如临镜, xiào chù;chǔ rú lín jìng,
窥时不隐墙。 kuī shí bù yǐn qiáng。
敢言西子短, gǎn yán xī zǐ duǎn;duān,
谁觉宓妃长。 shuí jué;jiào mì fēi cháng;zhǎng。
珠玉终相类, zhū yù zhōng xiàng;xiāng lèi,
同名作夜光。 tóng míng zuò yè guāng。
Peach tree, plum tree so near and dear
Lie over the well, fragrant all year.
They smile as in front of a mirror
When they peek out from behind the wall
I dare to mention Xi Zi[16]‘s short hair
And who thinks Mi Fei’s was long?
The Pearl and the Jade are equally bright
No more, no less, they fill up the night
The Peony 牡丹·锦帏初卷卫夫人
锦帏初卷卫夫人, jǐn wéi chū juǎn;juàn wèi fū rén,
绣被犹堆越鄂君。 xiù bèi yóu duī yuè è jūn。
垂手乱翻雕玉佩, chuí shǒu luàn fān diāo yù pèi,
招腰争舞郁金裙。 zhāo yāo zhēng wǔ yù jīn qún。
石家蜡烛何曾剪, shí jiā là zhú hé céng jiǎn,
荀令香炉可待熏。 xún lìng xiāng lú kě dāi xūn。
我是梦中传彩笔, wǒ shì mèng zhōng zhuàn;chuán cǎi bǐ,
欲书花叶寄朝云。 yù shū huā yè jì cháo;zhāo yún。
Your brocaded curtains first roll up around the Lady of Wei[17]
Embroidered sheets pile up by the Marquis of Yue[18]
Your carved jade pendants are like hands waving upside down[19]
Bright saffron skirts dance as though their waists will snap
How could the Stone God clip such precious candles? [20]
Could Master Xun Ling’s furnace produce such a scent? [21]
In my dreams I received a brush of many colors[22]
To write a message on these leaves for the morning clouds
For The Flowers Beneath Master Zhi 赠子直花下
池光忽隐墙, chí guāng hū yǐn qiáng,
花气乱侵房。 huā qì luàn qīn fáng。
屏缘蝶留粉, píng;bǐng yuán dié liú fěn,
窗油蜂印黄。 chuāng yóu fēng yìn huáng。
官书推小吏, guān shū tuī xiǎo lì,
侍史从清郎。 shì shǐ cóng;zòng;cōng qīng láng。
并马更吟去, bìng mǎ gèng;gēng yín qù,
寻思有底忙。 xún si yǒu dǐ máng。
The dim walls ignore the shining pool
Flowers invade the chamber without order
The butterfly[23] leaves its colors on the screen
Yellow honeybee marks lie on painted windows
The official letter is offered to Little Li
A woman free and easy to wait on your officials
Let us two horses cry out together
So what if we are busy with work, when like minds inquire?
For Middle Assistant Yuwen 赠宇文中丞
欲构中天正急材, yù gòu zhōng tiān zhèng;zhēng jí cái,
自缘烟水恋平台。 zì yuán yān shuǐ liàn píng tái。
人间只有嵇延祖, rén jiān zhǐ yǒu jí yán zǔ,
最望山公启事来。 zuì wàng shān gōng qǐ shì lái。
The building of Middle Heaven Terrace truly required integrity and talent
Of one who loves the mist and rain of Pingtai
In all the world there is only Master Ji Yanzu
Who most looks forward to the summons from Shangong.
A Little Rain 微雨
初随林霭动, chū suí lín ǎi dòng,
稍共夜凉分. shāo gòng yè liáng fēn.
窗迥侵灯冷, chuāng jiǒng qīn dēng lěng,
庭虚近水闻. tíng xū jìn shuǐ wén.
At first a haze seems to move over the trees
With this little rain a coolness sweeps through the night
Muted lamplight intrudes into cold windows and parlors
In empty halls, the water sounds quite near
Drizzling Rain 细雨
帷飘白玉堂, wéi piāo bái yù táng,
簟卷碧牙床. diàn juǎn;juàn bì yá chuáng.
楚女当时意, chǔ nǚ dāng shí;dàng shí yì,
萧萧发彩凉. xiāo xiāo fā;fà cǎi liáng.
Drapes swaying, a white jade[24]hall
Rolled up mats, a green bed shaped like a tooth
When the Goddess of Chu creates the rain
Her hair sparkles in the mirror with a cold light.
Rain 雨
摵摵度瓜园, sè sè dù guā yuán,
依依傍竹轩。 yī yī bàng zhú xuān。
秋池不自冷, qiū chí bù zì lěng,
风叶共成喧。 fēng yè gòng chéng xuān。
窗迥有时见, chuāng jiǒng yǒu shí jiàn;xiàn,
檐高相续翻。 yán gāo xiàng;xiāng xù fān。
侵宵送书雁, qīn xiāo sòng shū yàn,
应为稻粱恩。 yīng;yìng wèi;wéi dào liáng ēn。
She! She! The rain sounds on melon fields
Bamboo stalks and fences all cluster nearby
The Autumn pond does not feel cool
The wind sweeps up the leaves with a roar
Windows and pavilions are faintly seen
Eaves on the towers flap again and again
The wild geese[25] carries its letters into the night
Blessing the millet fields below
Thank You Letter 谢书
微意何曾有一毫, wēi yì hé céng yǒu yī háo,
空携笔砚奉龙韬。 kōng xié bǐ yàn fèng lóng tāo。
自蒙半夜传衣后, zì méng;mēng;měng bàn yè zhuàn;chuán yì;yī hòu,
不羡王祥得佩刀。 bù xiàn wáng xiáng dé;děi;de pèi dāo。
How you paid a little attention to this slight young leaf[26]
My hands empty, an ink brush stone was given by the dragon Sage
In the middle of the night I changed my clothes[27], afterwards
I did not envy King Wang’s blade of piety.
Xiangyang Palace 咸阳
咸阳宫阙郁嵯峨, xián;xiān yáng gōng què yù cuó é,
六国楼台艳绮罗。 liù guó lóu tái yàn qǐ luó;luō。
自是当时天帝醉, zì shì dāng shí;dàng shí tiān dì zuì,
不关秦地有山河。 bù guān qín dì;de yǒu shān hé。
The watchtower on Xiangyang Palace lies shrouded aloft
The mansions and terraces of the Six States gaudy and decked out
As for myself, I am now a drunken king
Who couldn’t care less about Qin’s lakes, mountains and such things.
Spring Wind 春风
春风虽自好, chūn fēng suī zì hǎo;hào,
春物太昌昌。 chūn wù tài chāng chāng。
若教春有意, ruò jiào;jiāo chūn yǒu yì,
惟遣一枝芳。 wéi qiǎn yī zhī fāng。
我意殊春意, wǒ yì shū chūn yì,
先春已断肠。 xiān chūn yǐ duàn cháng。
Although the spring wind does me good,
Too many things blossom, as Spring allows
Although the season shares a certain charm
Just send me one fragrant bough
For me Spring’s charm has fallen apart
For at its beginning I already had a broken heart
Early Rising 早起
风露澹清晨, fēng lù;lòu dàn qīng chén,
帘间独起人。 lián jiān;jiàn;xiàn dú qǐ rén。
莺花啼又笑, yīng huā tí yòu xiào,
毕竟是谁春。 bì jìng shì shuí chūn。
The early morning breeze is clear and fresh
Alone, she wakes up behind the curtain
The flowers laugh as the orioles cry,
This Spring is for whom, she sighs
Below the Cherry Blossoms 樱桃花下
流莺舞蝶两相欺, liú yīng wǔ dié liǎng xiàng;xiāng qī,
不取花芳正结时。 bù qǔ huā fāng zhèng;zhēng jié;jiē shí。
他日未开今日谢, tā rì wèi kāi jīn rì xiè,
嘉辰长短是参差。 jiā chén cháng duǎn shì cēn cī。
You deceive both the swooping oriole and the dancing butterfly
They don’t gather you up as your white crowns form
Thank today that you didn’t open then
Noble spirits always ebb and flow
The Mocking Peach 嘲桃
无赖夭桃面, wú lài yāo táo miàn,
平时露井东。 píng shí lù;lòu jǐng dōng。
春风为开了, chūn fēng wèi;wéi kāi le;liǎo;liào,
却拟笑春风。 què nǐ xiào chūn fēng。
What a rascal with a pallid face you are
Brightly shining to the east of the open well
You open your flowers for the rush of spring
Yet prepare to mock just what it brings
When The First Bamboo Shoots Emerge At The Start Of The Feast初食笋呈座中
嫩箨香苞初出林, nèn tuò xiāng bāo chū chū lín,
於陵论价重如金。 yū;yú;wū líng lùn jià zhòng;chóng rú jīn。
皇都陆海应无数, huáng dōu;dū lù hǎi yīng;yìng wú shù,
忍剪凌云一寸心。 rěn jiǎn líng yún yī cùn xīn。
Tender shoots, fragrant, first bud in the forest
At Wuling their value is greater than gold
The Capitol has seas and lands that are limitless
How can one cut inches into a heart[28] that soars?
To Goddess Gouwang 赠句芒神
佳期不定春期赊, jiā qī bù dìng chūn qī shē,
春物夭阏兴咨嗟。 chūn wù yāo yān xìng;xīng zī jiē;juē。
愿得句芒索青女, yuàn dé;děi;de jù máng suǒ qīng nǚ,
不教容易损年华。 bù jiào;jiāo róng yì sǔn nián huá。
The best of times is not when Spring is beginning or ending
When the world seems to slow, to gasps of alarm
Hope that Gouwang seeks out the Ice Queen
Otherwise, how easily we may lose Spring’s bloom
In the Style of Poet Li He 效长吉
长长汉殿眉,cháng;zhǎng cháng;zhǎng hàn diàn méi,
窄窄楚宫衣。zhǎi zhǎi chǔ gōng yì;yī。
镜好鸾空舞,jìng hǎo;hào luán kōng wǔ,
帘疏燕误飞。lián shū yàn wù fēi。
君王不可问,jūn wáng bù kě wèn,
昨夜约黄归。zuó yè yuē;yāo huáng guī。
Long, so long her eyebrows, as in the Han Temple
Narrow, so narrow the dress, as in the Chu Palace
In the fine mirror the luan[29] dances without passion
On the crumpled drapes the swallow crazily flies
The emperor cannot know but
Last night, she returned in yellow makeup
On Cold Food Festival While Traveling to Lengquan Staging Post 寒食行次冷泉驿
驿途仍近节, yì tú réng jìn jié,
旅宿倍思家。 lǚ sù;xiǔ bèi sī jiā。
独夜三更月, dú yè sān gēng yuè,
空庭一树花。 kōng tíng yī shù huā。
介山当驿秀, jiè shān dāng;dàng yì xiù,
汾水绕关斜。 fén shuǐ rào guān xié。
自怯春寒苦, zì qiè chūn hán kǔ,
那堪禁火赊。 nà;nèi kān jìn huǒ shē。
By the station road, close to the Festival
In the Inn, I think of home
Lonely, at the third lunar hour[30]
Empty halls, on the tree a flower
From Jie Mountain to the Post Station is lovely country
The river splits around the Pass
Myself, I tremble at the hardships of Spring
That coming crucible of bitterness and fire
For Official Zhao While Briefly Posted At Xielu 赠赵协律皙
俱识孙公与谢公, jù;jū shí sūn gōng yǔ xiè gōng,
二年歌哭处还同。 èr nián gē kū chù;chǔ hái;huán tóng;tòng。
已叨邹马声华末, yǐ dāo zōu mǎ shēng huá mò,
更共刘卢族望通。 gèng;gēng gòng liú lú zú wàng tōng。
南省恩深宾馆在, nán shěng;xǐng ēn shēn bīn guǎn zài,
东山事往妓楼空。 dōng shān shì wǎng;wàng jì lóu kōng。
不堪岁暮相逢地, bù kān suì mù xiāng féng dì;de,
我欲西征君又东。 wǒ yù xī zhēng jūn yòu dōng。
I got know officials Sun and Xie
We sang and suffered for two years.
Already unworthy of even a little of Master Zhou’s fame
I served a great family like Liu Lu’s
Mr He of Southern district showed great kindness when I stayed there
At East Mountain great matters left the red mansions bare
At the end of the year, one hates these meeting places
As I head for the Western Capitol and you, my friend, go east
The Hanging Sky 钧天
上帝钧天会众灵, shàng dì jūn tiān huì;kuài zhòng líng,
昔人因梦到青冥。 xī rén yīn mèng dào qīng míng。
伶伦吹裂孤生竹, líng lún chuī liè gū shēng zhú,
却为知音不得听。 què wèi;wéi zhī yīn bù dé tīng。
From God the sky hangs, the celestial convocation[31] gathers
In the past a dream led to visions of a heavenly feast
The flutes of Linglun Palace would split the lonely bamboos[32]
Why keep the sounds from those who want to know?
The Plum Flowers At Master Zizhe’s Jinchang Home 子直晋昌李花
吴馆何时熨, wú guǎn hé shí yùn;yù,
秦台几夜熏。 qín tái jǐ;jī yè xūn。
绡轻谁解卷, xiāo qīng shuí jiě juǎn;juàn,
香异自先闻。 xiāng yì zì xiān wén。
月里谁无姊, yuè lǐ shuí wú zǐ,
云中亦有君。 yún zhōng yì yǒu jūn。
樽前见飘荡, zūn qián jiàn;xiàn piāo dàng,
愁极客襟分。 chóu jí kè jīn fēn。
When will the silk skirt in Wu Palace open
Spreading its perfume over Qin Terrace night after night?
Who unfolds the layers of light silk?
Only I first recognize the strange scent
On the moon, who will be Chang E’s little sister
Or travel with the Cloud Goddess on her rounds?
We are like blossoms drifting before my wine cup
It hurts so much that my guest will just split his tunic and leave
The Willows By the Pass 关门柳
永定河边一行柳, yǒng dìng hé biān yī xíng liǔ,
依依长发故年春。 yī yī cháng;zhǎng fā;fà gù nián chūn。
东来西去人情薄, dōng lái xī qù rén qíng bò;báo;bó,
不为清阴减路尘。 bù wèi;wéi qīng yīn jiǎn lù chén。
The willows stand in a row by Yongding river
Year after year, luxuriously growing each spring
From the east to the west, one passes by with light fancies
Not dismounting from the dusty road to enjoy their cool shade.
Sunset Tower 夕阳楼
花明柳暗绕天愁, huā míng liǔ àn rào tiān chóu,
上尽重城更上楼。 shàng jìn;jǐn zhòng;chóng chéng gèng;gēng shàng lóu。
欲问孤鸿向何处, yù wèn gū hóng xiàng hé chù,
不知身世自悠悠。 bù zhī shēn shì zì yōu yōu。
Flower bright, whispering willows, circled by troubled skies
I struggle up to the tall city, even to the lofty tower[33]
To ask the wild goose where he flies
Even as I blindly drift through this mortal world
Stone City 石城
石城夸窈窕, shí chéng kuā yǎo tiǎo,
花县更风流。 huā xiàn gèng;gēng fēng liú。
簟冰将飘枕, diàn bīng jiāng;jiàng piāo zhěn,
帘烘不隐钩。 lián hōng bù yǐn gōu。
玉童收夜钥, yù tóng shōu yè yào,
金狄守更筹。 jīn dí shǒu gèng;gēng chóu。
共笑鸳鸯绮, gòng xiào yuān yāng qǐ,
鸳鸯两白头。 yuān yāng liǎng bái tóu。
Gorgeous is Stone city
As wild and romantic as Flower County
Cool reeds form wavy pillows
Under candlelight, nothing is hidden beneath the curtain hooks
Jade maidens receive the keys to the night
The clock’s copper watchman marshals his resources
Pleasant all the mandarin duck[34] weaved bedspreads
May the two ducks grow a white head of hair!
Two Poems for the Singing Lady 赠歌妓二首
水精如意玉连环, shuǐ jīng rú yì yù lián huán,
下蔡城危莫破颜。 xià cài chéng wēi mò pò yán。
红绽樱桃含白雪, hóng zhàn yīng táo hán bái xuě,
断肠声里唱阳关。 duàn cháng shēng lǐ chàng yáng guān。
白日相思可奈何, bái rì xiāng sī kě nài hé,
严城清夜断经过。 yán chéng qīng yè duàn jīng guò。
只知解道春来瘦, zhī;zhǐ zhī jiě dào chūn lái shòu,
不道春来独自多。 bù dào chūn lái dú zì duō。
First poem
The water crystal sways with the jade necklace
The perilous walls of Xiacai City buckles at her smile
The red cherry bursts open in the white snow[35]
One’s heart breaks at the sound of the .
Second Poem
During the day how can I think of you?
Even the clear moonlight is blocked by the city’s garrison walls
You only know that I am as thin as brushwood when spring arrives
You do not know how many lonely places I have been
Moon 月
过水穿楼触处明, guò shuǐ chuān lóu chù chù míng,
藏人带树远含清。 zàng rén dài shù yuǎn hán qīng。
初生欲缺虚惆怅, chū shēng yù quē xū chóu chàng,
未必圆时即有情。 wèi bì yuán shí jí yǒu qíng。
Over the water, enveloping the towers, touching places with light
People are hidden, a belt of trees, distant places so clear
At first, it seeks and falters, to dispel the empty and forlorn
When full, who knows what sort of relief it will bring?
Outside the City 城外
露寒风定不无情, lù;lòu hán fēng dìng bù wú qíng,
临水当山又隔城。 lín shuǐ dāng;dàng shān yòu gé chéng。
未必明时胜蚌蛤, wèi bì míng shí shèng;shēng bàng há;gé,
一生长共月亏盈。 yī shēng cháng;zhǎng gòng yuè kuī yíng。
It appears a cool wind is not always indifferent, without pity
Overlooking the water, I climb the mountains away from the City
Unlike the toad and clam[36], there is no guarantee how my tomorrow will go
Their long life depends on how much the moon ebbs and flows
Rest in Peace Dear Mentor 安平公诗
丈人博陵王名家, zhàng rén bó líng wáng míng jiā,
怜我总角称才华。 lián wǒ zǒng jiǎo chèn cái huá。
华州留语晓至暮, huā;huá zhōu liú yǔ;yù xiǎo zhì mù,
高声喝吏放两衙。 gāo shēng hē lì fàng liǎng yá。
明朝骑马出城外, míng zhāo qí mǎ chū chéng wài,
送我习业南山阿。 sòng wǒ xí yè nán shān ā;ē。
仲子延岳年十六, zhòng zǐ yán yuè nián shí liù,
面如白玉欹乌纱。 miàn rú bái yù yī wū shā。
其弟炳章犹两丱, qí dì bǐng zhāng yóu liǎng guàn,
瑶林琼树含奇花。 yáo lín qióng shù hán qí;jī huā。
陈留阮家诸侄秀, chén liú ruǎn jiā zhū zhí xiù,
逦迤出拜何骈罗。 lǐ yí chū bài hé pián luó;luō。
府中从事杜与李, fǔ zhōng cóng shì dù yǔ lǐ,
麟角虎翅相过摩。 lín jiǎo hǔ chì xiàng;xiāng guò mó。
清词孤韵有歌响, qīng cí gū yùn yǒu gē xiǎng,
击触钟磬鸣环珂。 jī chù zhōng qìng míng huán kē。
三月石堤冻销释, sān yuè shí dī dòng xiāo shì,
东风开花满阳坡。 dōng fēng kāi huā mǎn yáng pō。
时禽得伴戏新木, shí qín dé;děi;de bàn xì xīn mù,
其声尖咽如鸣梭。 qí shēng jiān yàn;yè;yān rú míng suō。
公时载酒领从事, gōng shí zài jiǔ lǐng cóng shì,
踊跃鞍马来相过。 yǒng yuè ān mǎ lái xiàng;xiāng guò。
仰看楼殿撮清汉, yǎng kàn;kān lóu diàn cuō qīng hàn,
坐视世界如恒沙。 zuò shì shì jiè rú héng shā。
面热脚掉互登陟, miàn rè jiǎo diào hù dēng zhì,
青云表柱白云崖。 qīng yún biǎo zhù bái yún yá。
一百八句在贝叶, yī bǎi bā jù zài bèi yè,
三十三天长雨花。 sān shí sān tiān cháng;zhǎng yǔ huā。
长者子来辄献盖, zhǎng zhě zǐ lái zhé xiàn gě;gài,
辟支佛去空留靴。 pì;bì zhī fú;fó qù kōng liú xuē。
公时受诏镇东鲁, gōng shí shòu zhào zhèn;chēn dōng lǔ,
遣我草诏随车牙。 qiǎn wǒ cǎo zhào suí chē yá。
顾我下笔即千字, gù wǒ xià bǐ jí qiān zì,
疑我读书倾五车。 yí wǒ dú shū qīng wǔ chē。
呜呼大贤苦不寿, wū hū dà xián kǔ bù shòu,
时世方士无灵砂。 shí shì fāng shì wú líng shā。
五月至止六月病, wǔ yuè zhì zhǐ liù yuè bìng,
遽颓泰山惊逝波。 jù tuí tài shān jīng shì bō。
明年徒步吊京国, míng nián tú bù diào jīng guó,
宅破子毁哀如何。 zhái pò zǐ huǐ āi;yǐ rú hé。
西风冲户卷素帐, xī fēng chōng hù juǎn;juàn sù zhàng,
隙光斜照旧燕窠。 xì guāng xié zhào jiù yàn kē。
古人常叹知己少, gǔ rén cháng tàn zhī jǐ shǎo;shào,
况我沦贱艰虞多。 kuàng wǒ lún jiàn jiān yú duō。
如公之德世一二, rú gōng zhī dé shì yī èr,
岂得无泪如黄河。 qǐ dé wú lèi rú huáng hé。
沥胆咒愿天有眼, lì dǎn zhòu yuàn tiān yǒu yǎn,
君子之泽方滂沱。 jūn zi zhī zé fāng pāng tuó。
The elder was a blue blood of the Bo Lingwang clan
He affectionately called me of the childish tufts ‘the talented one’
At Huazhou his voice resounded from morning to evening
When he twice performed censor duties his high voice seemed to sing
On clear mornings, he would ride his horse out of the city
Inviting me to study classes of the Southern Mountain ditties
His second son was sixteen years old
A face like white jade with a crow embroidered hat worn to the side, quite bold
The other son, Bing Zhang had two horn hair tufts
And was like strange flowers filling a jasper forest of precious lairs
The Ruan family nephews of the Chenliu office were talented
With respect, in unbroken ranks, to his work they attended
In the group’s subordinates official Di and Master Li
The unicorn’s horn and the tiger’s[37] wing, sat close, alike to a tee
Clear poems and sad rhymes would abound
Pealing bells and precious pendants lightly sound
In March the stone froze where the embankment loomed
On the southern slope, in the East wind, flowers bloomed
At times birds would happily flock to each new piece of
wood
With brittle crisp sounds like the lathe on a loom
At work, the studious teacher would command his subordinates
Eagerly reining the horses to come together, importunate
Looking up at the towers and temples we saw the Milky Way
From our seats it was the Ganges[38], a world at play
Faces flushed, we ascended, our legs very weak
Dark clouds stood up straight over White Cloud Peak
One hundred and eight verses in the talipot[39] leaf scrolls
Thirty three days of blooms as the long rain falls (?)
The elder’s son arrived often to present the cover (?)
He left behind empty sandals, the Sanskrit reading over
At work he received the edict to pacify Eastern Lu
Next to his tooth shaped chariot he had me scribble an ode or two
Inspiring me to lower my brush to write a thousand characters
He challenged me to read five cartloads of verse
Bellow out that bitter and short is the virtuous life
The scholar lacks nimbleness and grit needed in this mortal strife
He stopped work in May and got sick in June
As a wave breaks or Mount Tai[40] might collapse, he died so fast, so soon
Next year one will walk to the Capital to remember him and pay him leave
His home broken, sons distraught – how one must grieve
The tent is rolled up, two winds buffet the place he used to rest
Light slants in to reveal the old swallow’s nest
The ancients say what one knows is already very little
Now I have many poor omens and for cheaper things must settle
If the Master achieved virtue in both worlds ever
How can we not cry like the Yellow River[41]?
Brave wishes can trickle down yet the world will see
The gentleman’s pond is a torrential sea
After Having Shared Old Times With First Talent Cuiming At His Father’s Ocean Residence This Poem Was Sent To Officials Du, Zhao And Li. 过故崔兖海宅与崔明秀才话旧因寄旧僚杜赵李三掾
绛帐恩如昨, jiāng zhàng ēn rú zuó,
乌衣事莫寻。 wū yì;yī shì mò xún。
诸生空会葬, zhū shēng kōng huì;kuài zàng,
旧掾已华簪。 jiù yuàn yǐ huā;huá zān。
共入留宾驿, gòng rù liú bīn yì,
俱分市骏金。 jù;jū fēn shì jùn jīn。
莫凭无鬼论, mò píng wú guǐ lùn,
终负托孤心。 zhōng fù tuō gū xīn。
Teacher Red Curtain’s kindness seems like it was yesterday
Yet we will not again take pleasure such as at Crow Cloth Street
His students of old did not attend the burial
But now have already donned high ranking hairpins
All were welcomed into the resting post
Gold pieces for the horses were dutifully paid out
Do not rely on theories that say there are no ghosts
To take care of an orphan’s heart is what duty is about
Sent to Officials Cuiyong And Cuiyan, While Lodging at Luo Family Pavilion 宿骆氏亭寄怀崔雍崔衮
竹坞无尘水槛清, zhú wù wú chén shuǐ jiàn qīng,
相思迢递隔重城。 xiāng sī tiáo dì gé zhòng;chóng chéng。
秋阴不散霜飞晚, qiū yīn bù sǎn shuāng fēi wǎn,
留得枯荷听雨声。 liú dé;děi;de kū hè;hé tīng yǔ shēng。
By the railing, the air is free of dust, the water by the bamboo is clear and bright
My thoughts and feelings are of distant places, and the city of a lofty height
In the evening the frosty wind blows and the Autumn haze remains
All I hear is the withered lotus[42] leaves crackling in the rain.
Stagnant Rain 滞雨
滞雨长安夜, zhì yǔ cháng ān yè,
残灯独客愁。 cán dēng dú kè chóu。
故乡云水地, gù xiāng yún shuǐ dì;de,
归梦不宜秋。 guī mèng bù yí qiū。
A night in Chang An of stagnant rain
Withered candles, lonely guests with faces of pain
Where I come from, it is damp and many clouds roam
This Autumn, one should not dream of home
Returning East 东还
自有仙才自不知, zì yǒu xiān cái zì bù zhī,
十年长梦采华芝。 shí nián cháng;zhǎng mèng cǎi huā;huá zhī。
秋风动地黄云暮, qiū fēng dòng dì huáng yún mù,
归去嵩阳寻旧师。 guī qù sōng yáng xún jiù shī。
Whether I can find the Way[43] I do not know
For ten years I have dreamed of understanding the herb’s[44] mysteries
Autumn’s wind shakes the ground, at sunset golden clouds lie aloft
Returning to Song Yang, it is my old teacher I want to see
4 Swallow Terrace[45] Poems 燕台四首
春 chūn
风光冉冉东西陌, fēng guāng rǎn rǎn dōng xi;dōng xī mò,
几日娇魂寻不得。 jǐ;jī rì jiāo hún xún bù dé。
蜜房羽客类芳心, mì fáng yǔ kè lèi fāng xīn,
冶叶倡条遍相识。 yě yè chàng tiáo biàn xiāng shí。
暖蔼辉迟桃树西, nuǎn ǎi huī chí táo shù xī,
高鬟立共桃鬟齐。 gāo huán lì gòng táo huán qí。
雄龙雌凤杳何许? xióng lóng cí fèng yǎo hé xǔ?
絮乱丝繁天亦迷。 xù luàn sī fán tiān yì mí。
醉起微阳若初曙, zuì qǐ wēi yáng ruò chū shǔ,
映帘梦断闻残语。 yìng lián mèng duàn wén cán yǔ;yù。
愁将铁网罥珊瑚, chóu jiāng;jiàng tiě wǎng juàn shān hú,
海阔天宽迷处所。 hǎi kuò tiān kuān mí chù suǒ。
衣带无情有宽窄, yì;yī dài wú qíng yǒu kuān zhǎi,
春烟自碧秋霜白。 chūn yān zì bì qiū shuāng bái。
研丹擘石天不知, yán dān bò shí tiān bù zhī,
愿得天牢锁冤魄。 yuàn dé;děi;de tiān láo suǒ yuān pò。
夹罗委箧单绡起, jiá;jiā luó;luō wěi qiè dān;chán xiāo qǐ,
香肌冷衬琤琤佩。 xiāng jī lěng chèn chēng chēng pèi。
今日东风自不胜, jīn rì dōng fēng zì bù shèng,
化作幽光入西海。 huà;huā zuò yōu guāng rù xī hǎi。
夏 xià
前阁雨帘愁不卷, qián dū;gé yǔ lián chóu bù juǎn;juàn,
后堂芳树阴阴见。 hòu táng fāng shù yīn yīn jiàn;xiàn。
石城景物类黄泉, shí chéng jǐng wù lèi huáng quán,
夜半行郎空柘弹。 yè bàn xíng;háng;xìng láng kōng zhè tán;dàn。
绫扇唤风阊阖天, líng shàn;shān huàn fēng chāng hé tiān,
轻帏翠幕波洄旋。 qīng wéi cuì mù bō huí xuán。
蜀魂寂寞有伴未? shǔ hún jì mò yǒu bàn wèi?
几夜瘴花开木棉。 jǐ;jī yè zhàng huā kāi mù mián。
桂宫流影光难取, guì gōng liú yǐng guāng nán qǔ,
嫣薰兰破轻轻语。 yān xūn lán pò qīng qīng yǔ;yù。
直教银汉堕怀中, zhí jiào;jiāo yín hàn duò huái zhōng,
未遣星妃镇来去。 wèi qiǎn xīng fēi zhèn;chēn lái qù。
浊水清波何异源, zhuó shuǐ qīng bō hé yì yuán,
济河水清黄河浑。 jǐ;jì hé shuǐ qīng huáng hé hún。
安得薄雾起缃裙, ān dé;děi;de bó wù qǐ xiāng qún,
手接云輧呼太君。 shǒu jiē yún peng hū tài jūn。
秋 qiū
月浪衡天天宇湿, yuè làng héng tiān tiān yǔ shī,
凉蟾落尽疏星入。 liáng chán luò;lào;là jìn;jǐn shū xīng rù。
云屏不动掩孤嚬, yún píng;bǐng bù dòng yǎn gū pín,
西楼一夜风筝急。 xī lóu yī yè fēng zhēng jí。
欲织相思花寄远, yù zhī xiāng sī huā jì yuǎn,
终日相思却相怨。 zhōng rì xiāng sī què xiàng;xiāng yuàn。
但闻北斗声回环, dàn wén běi dòu;dǒu shēng huí huán,
不见长河水清浅。 bù jiàn cháng hé shuǐ qīng qiǎn。
金鱼锁断红桂春, jīn yú suǒ duàn hóng guì chūn,
古时尘满鸳鸯茵。 gǔ shí chén mǎn yuān yāng yīn。
堪悲小苑作长道, kān bēi xiǎo yuàn zuò cháng;zhǎng dào,
玉树未怜亡国人。 yù shù wèi lián wáng guó rén。
瑶琴愔愔藏楚弄, yáo qín yīn yīn zàng;cáng chǔ nòng;lòng,
越罗冷薄金泥重。 yuè luó;luō lěng bò;báo;bó jīn ní zhòng;chóng。
帘钩鹦鹉夜惊霜, lián gōu yīng wǔ yè jīng shuāng,
唤起南云绕云梦。 huàn qǐ nán yún rào yún mèng。
双璫丁丁联尺素, shuāng dāng zhēng zhēng lián chǐ sù,
内记湘川相识处。 nèi jì xiāng chuān xiāng shí chù;chǔ。
歌唇一世衔雨看, gē chún yī shì xián yǔ kàn;kān,
可惜馨香手中故。 kě xī xīn xiāng shǒu zhōng gù。
冬 dōng
天东日出天西下, tiān dōng rì chū tiān xī xià,
雌凤孤飞女龙寡。 cí fèng gū fēi nǚ lóng guǎ。
青溪白石不相望, qīng qī bái shí bù xiāng wàng,
堂上远甚苍梧野。 táng shang yuǎn shèn cāng wú yě。
冻壁霜华交隐起, dòng bì shuāng huā;huá jiāo yǐn qǐ,
芳根中断香心死。 fāng gēn zhōng duàn xiāng xīn sǐ。
浪乘画舸忆蟾蜍, làng chéng;shèng huà gě yì chán chú,
月娥未必婵娟子。 yuè é wèi bì chán juān zǐ。
楚管蛮弦愁一概, chǔ guǎn mán xián chóu yī gài,
空城罢舞腰支在。 kōng chéng bà;ba wǔ yāo zhī zài。
当时欢向掌中销, dāng shí;dàng shí huān xiàng zhǎng zhōng xiāo,
桃叶桃根双姊妹。 táo yè táo gēn shuāng zǐ mèi。
破鬟倭堕凌朝寒, pò huán wō duò líng cháo;zhāo hán,
白玉燕钗黄金蝉。 bái yù yàn chāi huáng jīn chán。
风车雨马不持去, fēng chē yǔ mǎ bù chí qù,
蜡烛啼红怨天曙。 là zhú tí hóng yuàn tiān shǔ。
Spring
Spring’s glow slowly sweeps across footpaths east to west
For days it seeks but does not find that charming lass
This honeybee is her kindred soul, her guest
Singing in a tree’s branches, knowing where her eyebrows are fixed fast
From the west, the glow slowly paints the peach trees
Like hair coiled high, the fruit’s topknots in her I see
Whence the dragon and his luan so fair
Aimless like willow leaves, gossamer tumbling in the air
Tipsy, woken by a faint light, (I think it is dawn)
A bright curtain, dreams interrupted, words half form
Upset, one tries to snare the coral in an iron web[46]
Yet in these vast seas and changing skies where to tread?
A woman’s girdle, tough without passion, can be large or slight
The spring mist is gray, but can turn into the autumn frost, white
Of pounding cinnabar, breaking open stones, what does heaven know?
One wishes to forever lock away Spring’s soul
Discard the heavy pajamas for the box of light clothes
Fragrant skin shudders in the fabric, as hair pins rattle in the cold
Today the East Wind leaves, my soul is weak, may we
Leave this moody gloom and also sink into the Western Sea?
Summer
Before the chamber, on a rain-soaked curtain, worries unfolded
Behind the halls, in a fragrant arbor, views murky and darkened
Stone City’s surroundings are like the Place of Yellow Shades[47]
But for midnight brothels, whoring, empty slingshots made of bamboo blades[48]
Satin fans gleam, wind sweeps Heaven’s gate
On light curtains, kingfisher green drapes, ponds of roiling waves
Has the cuckoo’s[49] lonely soul found a mate yet?
In this miasma thick for days with cotton seed flowers.
Shadows stream through the Cassia Palace[50], light barely collects
The lotus bursts, perfumed scents, hushed words are said.
Into the Milky River one’s heart directly sinks, flows
Not sent away, the Spinning Maid[51] often comes and goes
From what strange place, these clear or turbid waters and waves?
The Ji’s water is clear, cloudy the Yellow River
Mist quietly rises up your thin silk dress
With hands to grab the cloud awning of the carriage, beckoning this goddess.
Autumn
Moonlight floods the moisty sky,
Then dims, washing away a stream of Autumn stars
The mica screen[52] is still, hiding a brow that glowers
For all night, copper eaves clatter on the Western Towers
From afar, I would send you my palindrome brocade
Love for you reverts any sad thoughts, regrets
Although one hears the Dipper’s[53] handle turn
The waters of the Milky Way are clear, do not churn
The copper fish knob is locked, cassia flowers on cheeks so red
Dust has long settled on the mandarin duck bed
Now a highway, before, a sad little garden where one used to roam
The homeless man receives no pity, says the Jade Tree poem[54]
The (Chu songs) are hidden under the carefree jasper lute
Its Yue Luo struts are cold, heavily plated with gold, now mute
Curtains hang from parrot beaks[55] that squeak in the evening frost
Recalling these southern voyages, dreams of Yun Marsh lost
Attached to a foot of white silk[56], two earrings ding, ding
Memories of our meeting on the Xiang River they bring
We see the dancer sing of a world of bitter tears
I hold your letter, its scent with me so long, so near
Winter
The sun rises from the east and quickly sets in the west
The male luan flies alone, female dragons are far between
Miss Blue Spring and Master White Stone cannot see each other[57]
Their halls between them are as far as wild Canwu[58], it seems
Frozen walls and frosty flowers mingle, their forms unclear
In fragrant buds, their growth arrested, true love has withered, one fears
Waves buffet the painted boat, the moon is recalled
The face of Chang ‘E does not seem that lovely after all
The Chu pipe and barbarian strings sing troubled tunes
Slender waists cease dancing in the palace’ empty rooms
For only an instant they could dance on open palms[59],
The two sisters Peach Leaf and Peach Root were arm in arm.
Tossed hair buns and hollow curls mocked the cold morning
White jade swallow hairpins, gold cicada[60] ornaments and things
Now chariots of wind and horses of rain clouds aimlessly fret
As red candles weep, daybreak arrives, to complaints and
Regret
Tomorrow 明日
天上参旗过, tiān shàng cān;shān;shēn qí guò,
人间烛焰销。 rén jiān zhú yàn xiāo。
谁言整双履, shuí yán zhěng shuāng lǚ,
便是隔三桥。 biàn;pián shì gé sān qiáo。
知处黄金锁, zhī chù;chǔ huáng jīn suǒ,
曾来碧绮寮。 céng;zēng lái bì qǐ liáo。
凭栏明日意, píng lán míng rì yì,
池阔雨萧萧。 chí kuò yǔ xiāo xiāo。
Aloft, the canxi star has passed
Below, the candle’s snuffed
Who speaks of preparing one’s shoes to leave?
Already we are three bridges apart
I know where you placed your golden lock
Those times I visited your green damask curtain
I think of tomorrow as I lean on the railing
The lake is vast, the rain pitter patters
Spring Rain 春雨
怅卧新春白袷衣, chàng wò xīn chūn bái jiá yì;yī,
白门寥落意多违。 bái mén liáo luò;lào;là yì duō wēi。
红楼隔雨相望冷, hóng lóu gé yǔ xiāng wàng lěng,
珠箔飘灯独自归。 zhū bó piāo dēng dú zì guī。
远路应悲春晼晚, yuǎn lù yīng;yìng bēi chūn wǎn wǎn,
残宵犹得梦依稀。 cán xiāo yóu dé;děi;de mèng yī xī。
玉珰缄札何由达, yù dāng jiān zhá hé yóu dá,
万里云罗一雁飞。 wàn lǐ yún luó;luō yī yàn fēi。
A troubled chamber, the New Year’s thick, white clothes
Raindrops lightly fall by your White Gate[61], like many forbidden thoughts
Separated by red towers and rain, together dreaming, cold, alone
Light scatters through a curtain of pearls,in solitude, I return home
A Spring sunset falls on a long, long road
Before night is done, dreams indistinct, of vague abodes
Did my love’s jade earrings and letters get through?
Over so many[62] misty clouds the wild goose flew
Today 即日
地宽楼已迥, dì kuān lóu yǐ jiǒng
人更迥于楼。 rén gèng;gēng jiǒng yú lóu
细意经春物 xì yì jīng chūn wù
伤酲属暮愁。 shāng chéng shǔ mù chóu。
望赊殊易断, wàng shē shū yì duàn,
恨久欲难收。 hèn jiǔ yù nán shōu。
大势真无利, dà shì zhēn wú lì,
多情岂自由。 duō qíng qǐ zì yóu。
空园兼树废, kōng yuán jiān shù fèi,
败港拥花流。 bài gǎng yōng huā liú。
书去青枫驿, shū qù qīng fēng yì,
鸿归杜若洲。 hóng guī dù ruò zhōu。
单栖应分定, chán qī yīng fēn dìng,
辞疾索谁忧。 cí jí suǒ shuí yōu;yǒu。
更替林鸦恨, gēng tì lín yā hèn,
惊频去不休。 jīng pín qù bù xiū。
The land is vast, towers of many kinds
Within their walls, so many other people, I find
The faintest marks of Spring whip out memories
Evening, the sun, and wine, worries, all decrease
Indistinct your face, views of a distance easily blocked
The key to what I desire has long been locked
After all my effort, no results to see
Wherefore all this passion, and liberty!
In the vacant garden, trees again wither
In a hidden harbor fallen flowers flow
Letters go to the Green Maple Post
In the azalea’s pool, the swan goose lies low
Just go, abandon the bird’s perch at last
Whose leaving need produce such bitterness?
The crow really hates the forest, like me
Easily startled, it moves restlessly
Ode to the Clouds 咏云
捧月三更断, pěng yuè sān gēng duàn,
藏星七夕明。 zàng;cáng xīng qī xī míng。
才闻飘迥路, cái wén piāo jiǒng lù,
旋见隔重城。 xuán jiàn;xiàn gé zhòng;chóng chéng。
潭暮随龙起, tán;dǎn mù suí lóng qǐ,
河秋压雁声。 hé qiū yà;yā yàn shēng。
只应惟宋玉, zhī;zhǐ yīng;yìng wéi sòng yù,
知是楚神名。 zhī shì chǔ shén míng。
The moon shines, at midnight the glow declines
On the Seventh Night[63], the hidden star turns bright
I hear the scholar travels many roads
Far from the great city, his eyes seem to grow
At sunset, above the pool, he sees a dragon fly
Autumn’s river flows, muffling the wild goose’s cry
The place is famous only because of the ballade of Song Yu
Now the world will know you as an Immortal of Chu
5 Poems for Willow 柳枝五首 有序
花房与蜜脾, huā fáng yǔ mì pí,
蜂雄蛱蝶雌。 fēng xióng jiá dié cí。
同时不同类, tóng shí bù tóng lèi,
那复更相思。 nà;nèi fù gèng;gēng xiāng sī。
本是丁香树, běn shì dīng xiāng shù,
春条结始生。 chūn tiáo jié;jiē shǐ shēng。
玉作弹棋局, yù zuò tán;dàn qí jú,
中心亦不平。 zhōng xīn yì bù píng。
嘉瓜引蔓长, jiā guā yǐn màn;mán cháng;zhǎng,
碧玉冰寒浆。 bì yù bīng hán jiāng。
东陵虽五色, dōng líng suī wǔ sè,
不忍值牙香。 bù rěn zhí yá xiāng。
柳枝井上蟠, liǔ zhī jǐng shàng pán,
莲叶浦中干。 lián yè pǔ zhōng gān;gàn;hàn。
锦鳞与绣羽, jǐn lín yǔ xiù yǔ,
水陆有伤残。 shuǐ lù yǒu shāng cán。
画屏绣步障, huà píng;bǐng xiù bù zhàng,
物物自成双。 wù wù zì chéng shuāng。
如何湖上望, rú hé hú shàng wàng,
只是见鸳鸯。 zhǐ shì jiàn;xiàn yuān yāng。
(Poet’s preface) Willow was of a merchant family of Luo Yang City. Her father was rich and successful in business, but drowned in a storm’s tossing waves. Her mother did not care so much for her sons, but doted on Willow. At 17, she started to apply makeup and wear her hair in a bun, without much success. Abandoning makeup and mirrors, she blew leaves and chewed flowers, tuned the zither and played the bamboo flute. She would play ‘Sea Wind and Waves’ , and evoke heartbreak and mystery in her music.
Living close by, I heard from neighbors and friends of her family she had been this way for ten years, and they suspected she was a drunkard and dreamer, and no one would be betrothed to her . I listened to my older cousin Kun Rangshan, who lived next to Willow. One cloudy spring day he dismounted from his horse at the southern part of her house and recited my Swallow Terrace poems. Startled, she asked, ” Who wrote this? Who was this written for?” Rangshan replied: ” It was written by a young cousin of mine.” Willow immediately tore her belt with her hands and made a love knot for Rangshan to give to me in return for a poem.
On the following clear day, I rode to her street. Little Willow had donned makeup,dressed her hair, and waved her fan until her sleeve trembled. She said: ” Are you the little cousin? Three days from now, some neighbors and I will go to prepare the sprinkle the dress ritual, and I shall take a Boshan censor and wait for you.” I promised I would go. However, a friend headed to the Capitol, playfully stole my luggage and clothes with them as he went ahead, and I could not stay.
In the middle of winter Rangshan came to Chang An and said,”She married a governor from the east.” Next year, Rangshan again left for The east, I bid him farewell at Xiting port.
I wrote these poems to be placed in the place she used to live.
First Poem
A flowers bud and a honeycomb
Her fatal butterfly, his valiant bee
So different…but linked in time
Can ever their hearts with true love pine?
Second Poem
You are a sweet lilac tree
Whose knotted flowers first emerge in Spring
You are a jade chessboard[64]
Whose center, or heart, is an uneven thing
Poem 3
A fine melon attracts long vines
Within its dark jade, juice turns to ice
Although Eastern Mound melons[65] sport five hues
How can one bear to devour your flesh, so perfumed?
Poem 4
Above the well, the willow’s branches twist
The lotus leaves dry up on the shore
Embroidered feathers, scales like rich brocade,
The land is littered with suffering birds, fish, ghostly shades
Poem 5
The embroidered screen keeps out from in,
But this and that picture form matching pairs
How is it as I gaze above the lake,
Mandarin ducks are the only shapes?
First Impressions 拟意
怅望逢张女, chàng wàng féng zhāng nǚ,
迟回送阿侯。 chí huí sòng ā;ē hóu。
空看小垂手, kōng kàn;kān xiǎo chuí shǒu,
忍问大刀头。 rěn wèn dà dāo tóu。
妙选茱萸帐, miào xuǎn zhū yú zhàng,
平居翡翠楼。 píng jū fěi cuì lóu。
云屏不取暖, yún píng;bǐng bù qǔ nuǎn,
月扇未遮羞。 yuè shàn;shān wèi zhē xiū。
上掌真何有, shàng zhǎng zhēn hé yǒu,
倾城岂自由。 qīng chéng qǐ zì yóu。
楚妃交荐枕, chǔ fēi jiāo jiàn zhěn,
汉后共藏阄。 hàn hòu gòng zàng;cáng jiū。
夫向羊车觅, fū xiàng yáng chē mì,
男从凤穴求。 nán cóng;zòng;cōng fèng xué qiú。
书成祓禊帖, shū chéng fú xì tiě;tiē,
唱杀畔牢愁。 chàng shā pàn láo chóu。
夜杵鸣江练, yè chǔ míng jiāng liàn,
春刀解若榴。 chūn dāo jiě ruò liú。
象床穿幰网, xiàng chuáng chuān xiǎn wǎng,
犀帖钉窗油。 xī tiě;tiē dīng chuāng yóu。
仁寿遗明镜, rén shòu yí míng jìng,
陈仓拂彩球。 chén cāng fú cǎi qiú。
真防舞如意, zhēn fáng wǔ rú yì,
佯盖卧箜篌。 yáng gě;gài wò kōng hóu。
濯锦桃花水, zhuó jǐn táo huā shuǐ,
溅裙杜若洲。 jiàn qún dù ruò zhōu。
鱼儿悬宝剑, yú er;ér xuán bǎo jiàn,
燕子合金瓯。 yàn zi hé jīn ōu。
银箭催摇落, yín jiàn cuī yáo luò,
华筵惨去留。 huā;huá yán cǎn qù liú。
几时销薄怒, jǐ shí xiāo bò;báo;bó nù,
从此抱离忧。 cóng cǐ bào lí yōu。
帆落啼猿峡, fān luò;lào;là tí yuán xiá,
樽开画鹢舟。 zūn kāi huà yì zhōu。
急弦肠对断, jí xián cháng duì duàn,
翦蜡泪争流。 jiǎn là lèi zhēng liú。
璧马谁能带, bì mǎ shuí néng dài,
金虫不复收。 jīn chóng bù fù shōu。
银河扑醉眼, yín hé pū zuì yǎn,
珠串咽歌喉。 zhū chuàn yàn;yè;yān gē hóu。
去梦随川后, qù mèng suí chuān hòu,
来风贮石邮。 lái fēng zhù shí yóu。
兰丛衔露重, lán cóng xián lù;lòu zhòng;chóng,
榆荚点星稠。 yú jiá diǎn xīng chóu。
解佩无遗迹, jiě pèi wú yí jī,
凌波有旧游。 líng bō yǒu jiù yóu。
曾来十九首, céng;zēng lái shí jiǔ shǒu,
私谶咏牵牛。 sī chèn yǒng qiān niú。
Long have I hoped to hear
I return late, Miss Aho has been given away
You stood respectfully, with a bored gaze
Daring to ask Big Baldy when we could next meet
How wonderful to recline under prickly ash curtains
On normal days to live in the emerald tower
Mica screens retain the warmth
Moon fans cannot cover one’s blushes
Truly you can dance in one’s palm
What local beauty can be so light, carefree?
Princess Mi Fei of Chu offered her pillow
The Han Queen was good at playing hide the lots
One rides out in an Ox Cart, seeking
Scholarly men from the Phoenix Cave
Scrolls turn into the Lan Ting Preface[66]
One sings the <Sorrows of Separation>
At night, by the Wu, clothes are washed and pounded
In Spring, scissors trim pomegranate skirts
An ivory bed, a xian bed curtain
The rhino horn punctures the painted windows
A luminous mirror, as from The Long Life Temple
Decorated balls, as from Baoji City.
Guard against the ‘Scratcher dance’
Pretend to cover the chamber’s Konghu Zither
Wash and make beautiful the fallen flower
Sprinkle your dress with azalea by the river bank
The treasured sword hangs by its serpent handle
Little swallows cover the gold wine bowl
The water clock’s silver arrow shakes and quivers
Miserable, this separation at the grand party
Perhaps she will discard petty grievances
And embrace the pain of being apart
The sail drops and the apes of the gorges cry
Open the wine pitcher, a picture of a boat, a fishhawk flies
A broken heart interrupts the zither’s string
Snip the candle wax whose tears strive to flow
Now who will wear the green jade horse strap?
No one dons the golden cicada hairpin
The Milky Way pounces on my drunken eyes
Its string of pearls swallows the singer’s cries
Dreams departs with the Yellow River God
Wind arrives and gathers by the Stone Dragon
The lotus crowd together, dew covered multitudes
Elm seeds rain like stars, thick and dense
Perhaps the fairy pendants are lost
Waves pound away at old roaming spots
Long ago <Nineteen Ancient Poems> pleased without fail
Now one secretly hums just the <Cowherd’s Tale>
Two Poems on Henei county 河内诗二首[67]
鼍鼓沉沉虬水咽, tuó gǔ chén chén qiú shuǐ yàn;yè;yān,
秦丝不上蛮弦绝。 qín sī bù shàng mán xián jué。
常娥衣薄不禁寒, cháng é yì;yī bò;báo;bó bù jīn hán,
蟾蜍夜艳秋河月。 chán chú yè yàn qiū hé yuè。
碧城冷落空蒙烟, bì chéng lěng luò kōng méng;mēng;měng yān,
帘轻幕重金钩栏。 lián qīng mù zhòng jīn gōu lán。
灵香不下两皇子, líng xiāng bù xià liǎng huáng zǐ,
孤星直上相风竿。 gū xīng zhí shàng xiàng fēng gān。
八桂林边九芝草, bā guì lín biān jiǔ zhī cǎo,
短襟小鬓相逢道。 duǎn;duān jīn xiǎo bìn xiāng féng dào
入门暗数一千春, rù mén àn shǔ;shù;shuò yī qiān chūn,
愿去闰年留月小。 yuàn qù rùn nián liú yuè xiǎo。
栀子交加香蓼繁, zhī zi jiāo jiā xiāng lù fán,
停辛伫苦留待君。 tíng xīn zhù kǔ liú dāi jūn。
阊门日下吴歌远, chāng mén rì xià wú gē yuǎn,
陂路绿菱香满满。 pō;pí lù lǜ líng xiāng mǎn mǎn。
后溪暗起鲤鱼风, hòu qī àn qǐ lǐ yú fēng,
船旗闪断芙蓉干。 chuán qí shǎn duàn fú róng gān;gàn;hàn。
轻身奉君畏身轻, qīng shēn fèng jūn wèi shēn qīng,
双桡两桨樽酒清。 shuāng ráo;náo liǎng jiǎng zūn jiǔ qīng。
莫因风雨罢团扇, mò yīn fēng yǔ bà;ba tuán shàn;shān,
此曲断肠惟北声。 cǐ qū duàn cháng wéi běi shēng。
低楼小径城南道, dī lóu xiǎo jìng chéng nán dào,
犹自金鞍对芳草。 yóu zì jīn ān duì fāng cǎo。
Poem 1: Above the Winding Towers
The Alligator Drums pound heavily, water trickles from the dragon spout
Overwhelmed by the folk strings, the Qin zither faintly sounds
Change E’s clothes are thin, no protection against the chill
The toad sparkles in the night, in the river of the Autumn moon
Desolate lies the Jade Temple[68], its empty spaces covered in mist
A light curtain, heavy drapes hang on golden hooks
The two White Fragrant goddesses are no lower than the two enlightened kings[69]
My lonely star directly climbs up, to where the wind vane swings
Eight pillars stand near the forest, by the foliage of Nine Sesame Peak
In a short tunic and locks of hair falling over her temple, she meets me on the small path[70]
We enter the halls, quietly count one thousand springs
I wish last leap year had had just one more moonlit night
The scents of jasmine and knotweed mix, luxuriant, grow
Here, waiting for one’s love, bitter troubles and worries, away they go
Poem 2: In the Winding Lake
One hears from afar the Song of Wu, at sunset, by Changmen Gate[71],
Crowded by the bank, the green water chestnuts fill the air with their scent
The September wind quietly blows from the streams behind
Slapping against hyacinth trees the boat banners try to fly
She fears her master will not think of her as someone dear
Two oars, it’s time for two hearts, the wine in the vat is clear
She doesn’t close her fan because of the wind and the rain
But drops it, the only sound is of her heartbreak and pain
Her small path, and the southern road to the city, lie at the bottom of the tower
I leave, a golden saddle next to her fragrant flower.
Miss No Worry 莫愁
雪中梅下与谁期, xuě zhōng méi xià yǔ shuí qī,
梅雪相兼一万枝。 méi xuě xiàng;xiāng jiān yī wàn zhī。
若是石城无艇子, ruò shì shí chéng wú tǐng zǐ,
莫愁还自有愁时。 mò chóu hái;huán zì yǒu chóu shí。
In the snow, beneath the plums, with whom do you rendezvous?
On ten thousand branches, plums and snowflakes join, these two
Were Stone City without a little boat to help us meet
Miss No Worry would worry indeed!
Visiting the Hermit of White Cloud Mountain 访白云山
瀑近悬崖屋, bào jìn xuán yá wū,
阴阴草木青。 yīn yīn cǎo mù qīng。
自言山底住, zì yán shān dǐ zhù,
长向月中耕。 cháng;zhǎng xiàng yuè zhōng gēng。
晚雨无多点, wǎn yǔ wú duō diǎn,
初蝉第一声。 chū chán dì yī shēng。
煮茶归未去, zhǔ chá guī wèi qù,
刻竹为题名kè zhú wèi;wéi tí míng
His cave is near the waterfall that hangs off the cliff
Shrouded by trees and bushes in solitude
He tells me he lives at the foot of the mountain
But tills the land as high as the moon in the sky
In the evening a few drops of rain fall
The cicadas call out for the first time
After tea is boiled I head back
Inscribing on bamboo this very poem
Yesterday Evening 昨日
昨日紫姑神去也, zuó rì zǐ gū shén qù yě,
今朝青鸟使来赊。 jīn zhāo qīng niǎo shǐ lái shē。
未容言语还分散, wèi róng yán yǔ hái;huán fēn sǎn,
少得团圆足怨嗟。 shǎo;shào dé;děi;de tuán yuán zú yuàn jiē;juē。
二八月轮蟾影破, èr bā yuè lún;qiāng chán yǐng pò,
十三弦柱雁行斜。 shí sān xián zhù yàn xíng;háng;xìng xié。
平明钟后更何事, píng míng zhōng hòu gèng;gēng hé shì,
笑倚墙边梅树花。 xiào yǐ qiáng biān méi shù huā。
Yesterday evening, the purple goddess left
This morning who knows where the Blue bird[72] will be?
Words are hard to say, scatter, fly by
The reunion is short lived, heavy with sighs
The lunar toad’s[73] shadow shatters on the sixteenth day
The zither’s thirteen posts become a line of wild geese at play
Hear the early morning bell…what calls?
The plum tree’s flowers just happily lean against the walls.
The Single Screen 一片
一片非烟隔九枝, yī piān fēi yān gé jiǔ zhī,
蓬峦仙仗俨云旗。 péng luán xiān zhàng yǎn yún qí。
天泉水暖龙吟细, tiān quán shuǐ nuǎn lóng yín xì,
露畹春多凤舞迟。 lù;lòu wǎn chūn duō fèng wǔ chí。
榆荚散来星斗转, yú jiá sǎn lái xīng dǒu zhuǎi,
桂花寻去月轮移。 guì huā xún qù yuè lún yí。
人间桑海朝朝变, rén jiān sāng hǎi cháo;zhāo cháo;zhāo biàn,
莫遣佳期更后期。 mò qiǎn jiā qī gèng;gēng hòu qī。
A single screen cannot separate rolling mist from the nine branches
The Immortals of Peng Hill[74] stand warlike, banners glorious to see
Heaven’s spring sound like a dragon scales trickling
Vernal joy lies in the fields as the Phoenix slowly dances
The elm seeds are scattered as the Big Dipper turns[75]
The Cassia flowers are sought as the moon revolves
Mulberry fields, green seas, Kings and Courts all change
Except for that time, that special time we shall meet.
Some Words About Things That Match 当句有对
密迩平阳接上兰, mì ěr píng yáng jiē shàng lán,
秦楼鸳瓦汉宫盘。 qín lóu yuān wǎ hàn gōng pán。
池光不定花光乱, chí guāng bù dìng huā guāng luàn,
日气初涵露气干。 rì qì chū hán lù;lòu qì gān;gàn;hàn。
但觉游蜂饶舞蝶, dàn jué;jiào yóu fēng ráo wǔ dié,
岂知孤凤忆离鸾。 qǐ zhī gū fèng yì lí luán。
三星自转三山远, sān xīng zì zhuǎi sān shān yuǎn,
紫府程遥碧落宽。 zǐ fǔ chéng yáo bì luò kuān。
How near the Pingyang Palace is to the Temple of Shanglan
How similar the Mandarin duck tiles of Qin are to the Han Palace Bowl
In the rippling pool the flower’s radiance pulses
The Qi[76] of day first emerges and quickly forms
One senses the roaming bees and the many dancing butterflies
Who can imagine a lonely phoenix pining after his distant luan?
Three stars revolve, three mountains are far away
Great the distance to the purple halls, vast the green void at play.
The Pomegranate 石榴
榴枝婀娜榴实繁, liú zhī ē nuó liú shí fán,
榴膜轻明榴子鲜。 liú mó qīng míng liú zǐ xiān。
可羡瑶池碧桃树, kě xiàn yáo chí bì táo shù,
碧桃红颊一千年。 bì táo hóng jiá yī qiān nián。
So lithe and tender, the pomegranate lushly grows
A fragile skin, luminous, seeds clustered within
But I admire the emerald peach trees of Jasper Lake[77]
Green the trees, crimson the cheeks, a thousand years old.
Faded Flower 残花
残花啼露莫留春, cán huā tí lù;lòu mò liú chūn,
尖发谁非怨别人。 jiān fā;fà shuí fēi yuàn bié rén。
若但掩关劳独梦, ruò dàn yǎn guān láo dú mèng,
宝钗何日不生尘。 bǎo chāi hé rì bù shēng chén。
The faded flower weeps, for spring is left behind
Who isn’t reproached, for this hair tightly coiled?
But were you to shut yourself away with lonely dreams
Wouldn’t the hair pin daily be soiled with dust?
The Peony 牡丹
压径复缘沟, yà;yā jìng fù yuán gōu,
当窗又映楼。 dāng;dàng chuāng yòu yìng lóu。
终销一国破, zhōng xiāo yī guó pò,
不啻万金求。 bù chì wàn jīn qiú。
鸾凤戏三岛, luán fèng xì sān dǎo,
神仙居十洲。 shén xiān jū shí zhōu。
应怜萱草淡, yīng;yìng lián xuān cǎo dàn,
却得号忘忧。 què dé;děi;de hào wàng yōu;yǒu。
Crowded on the path, by the ditch’s edge grow the flowers
Even by the windows, and under the glittering towers
As this broken country your petals enfold[78]
What need is there to seek thousands of pieces of gold?
The phoenix and the luan gambol on the fabled isles
In the ten lands, the Celestial spirits have their domiciles
You should command the forget-me-knots be few
So that memories may fade and our worries too.
Twenty Verses Presented To My Colleagues In The Gathering Of The Year Wuchen 戊辰会静中出贻同志二十韵
大道谅无外, dà dào liàng wú wài,
会越自登真。 huì;kuài yuè zì dēng zhēn。
丹元子何索, dān yuán zǐ hé suǒ,
在己莫问邻。 zài jǐ mò wèn lín。
蒨璨玉琳华, qiàn càn yù lín huā;huá,
翱翔九真君。 áo xiáng jiǔ zhēn jūn。
戏掷万里火, xì zhì wàn lǐ huǒ,
聊召六甲旬。 liáo zhào liù jiǎ xún。
瑶简被灵诰, yáo jiǎn bèi líng gào,
持符开七门。 chí fú kāi qī mén。
金铃摄群魔, jīn líng shè qún mó,
绛节何兟兟。 jiāng jié hé shēn shēn。
吟弄东海若, yín nòng;lòng dōng hǎi ruò,
笑倚扶桑春。 xiào yǐ fú sāng chūn。
三山诚迥视, sān shān chéng jiǒng shì,
九州扬一尘。 jiǔ zhōu yáng yī chén。
我本玄元胄, wǒ běn xuán yuán zhòu,
禀华由上津。 bǐng huā;huá yóu shàng jīn。
中迷鬼道乐, zhōng mí guǐ dào lè;yuè,
沉为下土民。 chén wèi;wéi xià tǔ mín。
托质属太阴, tuō zhì shǔ tài yīn,
炼形复为人。 liàn xíng fù wéi rén。
誓将覆宫泽, shì jiāng;jiàng fù gōng zé,
安此真与神。 ān cǐ zhēn yǔ shén。
龟山有慰荐, guī shān yǒu wèi jiàn,
南真为弥纶。 nán zhēn wèi;wéi mí lún。
玉管会玄圃, yù guǎn huì;kuài xuán pǔ,
火枣承天姻。 huǒ zǎo chéng tiān yīn。
科车遏故气, kē chē è gù qì,
侍香传灵氛。 shì xiāng zhuàn;chuán líng fēn。
飘飖被青霓, piāo yáo bèi qīng ní,
婀娜佩紫纹。 ē nuó pèi zǐ wén。
林洞何其微, lín dòng hé qí wēi,
下仙不与群。 xià xiān bù yǔ qún。
丹泥因未控, dān ní yīn wèi kòng,
万劫犹逡巡。 wàn jié yóu qūn xún。
荆芜既以薙, jīng wú jì yǐ tì,
舟壑永无湮。 zhōu hè yǒng wú yān;yīn。
相期保妙命, xiàng;xiāng qī bǎo miào mìng,
腾景侍帝宸。 téng jǐng shì dì chén。
The powers of The Way know no bounds[79]
As one ascends to enlightenment
How can one learn of the Danyuan[80]?
One does not inquire of those around
The Lin jade flowers are rich and lush
The Lord of Nine Truths hovers above
Flames are cast joyfully far and wide
On the tenth day we discuss what Liujia has divined
Beautiful, the Way from the Jade Room comes
The fu sutra[81] will open the Seven Orifices
Golden bells[82] control the demon hordes just fine
Crimson banners are arrayed line after line
Playfully sing to the dancing East Sea Gods
Laughingly defer to Fusang’s[83] vernal tree
We see three fabled islands[84] from distant soil
On these nine lands[85] we live our mortal coil
From the Great Spirit I was born
From its heavenly waters great things grow
Half lost in the pleasures of the Ghost Dao[86]
Gloomily we live as dusty denizens below
We hold a bond with the Taiyin forging
Our bodies to reemerge as men
Shortly each prepares to cleanse the mind
Accordingly to reach the truth and immortality find
Tortoise mountain consoles and advises
The Southern Lady of Truth embraces
From the celestial garden the sound of the jade flute
Tianyun shares with us the immortality fruit
The celestial chariot receives the unclean spirits
Golden valets and jade maidens impart good will
Raiments sway in the wind bright as a rainbow[87]
From pendants lithe and winsome silk tassels flow
Why are the forest caves[88] so small?
Because from such heights one alone must fall
If the Dan pills[89] are not managed
Our mortal lives last just an instant
Once we root out the brambles in our mind
A vision forever unobstructed we will find
Together let us safeguard this life of wonder
And dance in homage to the God above!
Emotions 寓怀
彩鸾餐颢气, cǎi luán cān hào qì,
威凤入卿云。 wēi fèng rù qīng yún。
长养三清境, cháng;zhǎng yǎng sān qīng jìng,
追随五帝君。 zhuī suí wǔ dì jūn。
烟波遗汲汲, yān bō yí jí jí,
矰缴任云云。 zēng jiǎo;zhuó rèn yún yún。
下界围黄道, xià jiè wéi huáng dào,
前程合紫氛。 qián chéng hé;gé zǐ fēn。
金书惟是见, jīn shū wéi shì jiàn;xiàn,
玉管不胜闻。 yù guǎn bù shèng wén。
草为回生种, cǎo wèi;wéi huí shēng zhǒng;zhòng ,
香缘却死熏。 xiāng yuán què sǐ xūn。
海明三岛见, hǎi míng sān dǎo jiàn;xiàn,
天迥九江分。 tiān jiǒng jiǔ jiāng fēn。
搴树无劳援, qiān shù wú láo yuán,
神禾岂用耘。 shén hé qǐ yòng yún。
斗龙风结阵, dòu;dǒu lóng fēng jié;jiē zhèn,
恼鹤露成文。 nǎo hè lù;lòu chéng wén。
汉岭霜何早, hàn lǐng shuāng hé zǎo,
秦宫日易曛。 qín gōng rì yì xūn。
星机抛密绪, xīng jī pāo mì xù,
月杵散灵氛。 yuè chǔ sǎn líng fēn。
阳鸟西南下, yáng niǎo xī nán xià,
相思不及群。 xiāng sī bù jí qún。
The dazzling luan brings with her a celestial glow
The proud phoenix enters the cloudy realm
Together dwelling in the Three Spaces of Light
We track the destiny of the Five Kings
The waves of mist quickly avert my anxiety
The arrow’s streamer targets as it may
The sun makes its rounds on the earth below
Before it the purple haze blends into one
Only carved golden words are to be seen
One cannot bear the beauty of the Jade flute
Grass grows that restores life
The elixir’s perfumed scent lingers
Over the resplendent ocean one sees the three magic isles
The nine rivers split across the world, vast and indistinct
The Qian tree requires no work
How could celestial grains need cultivation?
The dragon battles among gusts of wind
Words emerge from the unhappy crane[90]
Frost early lights upon the Han Memorial[91]
Twilight sets over the Qin[92] Palace
The weaving maid’s loom spins out silk thread after thread
On the moon, the pestle brings forth the scent of the immortal pills
The Yang bird flies south west, down
My thoughts of heaven are tendered in solitude
Master Xuanwei 玄微先生
仙翁无定数, xiān wēng wú dìng shù,
时入一壶藏。 shí rù yī hú zàng;cáng。
夜夜桂露湿, yè yè guì lù;lòu shī,
村村桃水香。 cūn cūn táo shuǐ xiāng。
醉中抛浩劫, zuì zhōng pāo hào jié,
宿处起神光。 sù chù qǐ shén guāng。
药裹丹山凤, yào guǒ dān shān fèng,
棋函白石郎。 qí hán bái shí láng。
弄河移砥柱, nòng;lòng hé yí dǐ zhù,
吞日倚扶桑。 tūn rì yǐ fú sāng。
龙竹裁轻策, lóng zhú cái qīng cè,
鲛绡熨下裳。 jiāo xiāo yùn;yù xià cháng。
树栽嗤汉帝, shù zāi chī hàn dì,
桥板笑秦王。 qiáo bǎn xiào qín wáng。
径欲随关令, jìng yù suí guān lìng,
龙沙万里强。 lóng shā wàn lǐ qiáng;qiǎng。
This celestial sage of uncertain age
Can skillfully collect into his magic pot
The dew that drips from the Cassia tree night after night
and peach nectar scents, in village upon village
When drunk, he doesn’t know seas have become mulberry fields
Or the light emerging from his abode is like daytime
His magic pills are from the phoenix of Red Mountain
The Weiqi case is of white quartz
The Milky Way has become the Three Gorges
The Sun rises from the Mulberry Tree
Horse whips are cut from dragon bamboo
Skirts light as mist are spun from mermaid silk
So much for the Han King’s attempt to grow peaches
Or the Qin Emperor’s mocking of the stone bridge
May one happily follow the Dao path of Guan Ling
Ten thousands miles to Longshan and beyond
Wind 风
撩钗盘孔雀, liāo chāi pán kǒng què,
恼带拂鸳鸯。 nǎo dài fú yuān yāng。
罗荐谁教近, luó;luō jiàn shuí jiào;jiāo jìn,
斋时锁洞房。 zhāi shí suǒ dòng fáng。
Lift the spiraling phoenix hairpin
Brush against the mandarin ducks on the sweet silk tassels
Who do the bed coverings beckon close?
During the prayer hours, the inner rooms are sealed,
Three Jade City Poems 碧城三首
碧城十二曲阑干, bì chéng shí èr qū lán gān,
犀辟尘埃玉辟寒。 xī pì;bì chén āi yù pì;bì hán。
阆苑有书多附鹤, làng yuàn yǒu shū duō fù hè,
女床无树不栖鸾。 nǚ chuáng wú shù bù qī luán。
星沈海底当窗见, xīng shěn;chén hǎi dǐ dāng;dàng chuāng jiàn;xiàn,
雨过河源隔座看。 yǔ guò hé yuán gé zuò kàn;kān。
若是晓珠明又定, ruò shì xiǎo zhū míng yòu dìng,
一生长对水晶盘。 yī shēng cháng;zhǎng duì shuǐ jīng pán。
对影闻声已可怜, duì yǐng wén shēng yǐ kě lián,
玉池荷叶正田田。 yù chí hé yè zhèng;zhēng tián tián。
不逢萧史休回首, bù féng xiāo shǐ xiū huí shǒu,
莫见洪崖又拍肩。 mò jiàn;xiàn hóng yá yòu pāi jiān。
紫凤放娇衔楚佩, zǐ fèng fàng jiāo xián chǔ pèi,
赤鳞狂舞拨湘弦。 chì lín kuáng wǔ bō xiāng xián。
鄂君怅望舟中夜, è jūn chàng wàng zhōu zhōng yè,
绣被焚香独自眠。 xiù bèi fén xiāng dú zì mián。
七夕来时先有期, qī xī lái shí xiān yǒu qī,
洞房帘箔至今垂。 dòng fáng lián bó zhì jīn chuí。
玉轮顾兔初生魄, yù lún;qiāng gù tù chū shēng pò,
铁网珊瑚未有枝。 tiě wǎng shān hú wèi yǒu zhī。
检与神方教驻景, jiǎn yǔ shén fāng jiào;jiāo zhù jǐng,
收将凤纸写相思。 shōu jiāng;jiàng fèng zhǐ xiě xiāng sī。
武皇内传分明在, wǔ huáng nèi zhuàn fēn míng zài,
莫道人间总不知。 mò dào rén jiān zǒng bù zhī。
Poem 1
Paths wind about the city’s twelve jade walls[93]
The rhino horn dispels the dust, jade averts the cold
In Langyuan[94] paradise, carried by herons[95], all these scrolls
On every tree of Lady Chamber’s mountain a luan one beholds
Stars descend, the sea is low, as I look out the window for you
Rain falls on the Milky Way, threatening our rendezvous
Were the morning pearl to fix its splendid glow
A long life would await you in the magic crystal bowl[96]
Poem 2
How beautiful is your image and the sounds I hear
Your orchid leaves lie placid, so placid on the emerald pool
You do not meet Xiaoshi[97], don’t bother to look back
Or pat Hongya’s[98] shoulder, he is nowhere to be seen
My purple phoenix defers to the tender Chu lady’s jewelry[99]
The red fish[100] dances crazy to your mottled bowstrings
My Hebei lord, feeling blue, peers into the night from the middle of his boat
He sleeps alone, under perfumed sheets, where smoke from incense floats[101]
No 3
The Seventh Night comes, it is time to meet but
In a dark abode, behind window shades, up to now you sleep
The jade wheel[102] spins, the rabbit produces the first moonlight shaft
A steel web scoops up corals that are gaunt, barely intact
Study the celestial scriptures so that you may always dwell in spring
My phoenix[103] paper writings of tender thoughts and love, to thee I bring
One may clearly see, in the tale of Emperor Wu[104]
That a world without the Tao will never know what is true
Were One 如有
如有瑶台客, rú yǒu yáo tái kè,
相难复索归。 xiàng;xiāng nán fù suǒ guī。
芭蕉开绿扇, bā jiāo kāi lǜ shàn;shān,
菡萏荐红衣。 hàn dàn jiàn hóng yī。
浦外传光远, pǔ wài zhuàn guāng yuǎn,
烟中结响微。 yān zhōng jié;jiē xiǎng wēi。
良宵一寸焰, liáng xiāo yī cùn yàn,
回首是重帏。 huí shǒu shì zhòng;chóng wéi。
Were one a guest on Jasper Terrace again
Before their disapproval, one would search for the way back
Their fans of green banana leaves would open
Scarlet lotus flowers would grace one’s clothes
From the other side of the river, the radiance dims
In the deepening mist the music grows faint
A flame flickers this fine night
I turn my head towards the heavy curtains.
Story of the Potion 药转
郁金堂北画楼东, yù jīn táng běi huà lóu dōng,
换骨神方上药通。 huàn gú shén fāng shàng yào tōng。
露气暗连青桂苑, lù;lòu qì àn lián qīng guì yuàn,
风声偏猎紫兰丛。 fēng shēng piān liè zǐ lán cóng。
长筹未必输孙皓, cháng;zhǎng chóu wèi bì shū sūn hào,
香枣何劳问石崇。 xiāng zǎo hé láo wèn shí chóng。
忆事怀人兼得句, yì shì huái rén jiān dé;děi;de jù,
翠衾归卧绣帘中。 cuì qīn guī wò xiù lián zhōng。
To the north the Tulip Hall, Eastwards the painted Mansion
The magic potion makes bones immortal[105]
The sun’s rays quietly spreads throughout the old cassia grove
The wind sighs, bending the purple stems of the crowded lotus
A long term strategy did not hurt Sunhao
How could fragrant Jujube ask after husband Shizong?
Kindred spirits may confide about this thing
Return you to your green bed sheets under the brocaded curtain
Breaking Dawn 晓起
拟杯当晓起, nǐ bēi dāng;dàng xiǎo qǐ,
呵镜可微寒。 ā;hē;ō jìng kě wēi hán。
隔箔山樱熟, gé bó shān yīng shú,
褰帷桂烛残。 qiān wéi guì zhú cán。
书长为报晚, shū cháng;zhǎng wèi;wéi bào wǎn,
梦好更寻难。 mèng hǎo;hào gèng;gēng xún nán。
影响输双蝶, yǐng xiǎng shū shuāng dié,
偏过旧畹兰。 piān guò jiù wǎn lán。
I raise a mug to the breaking dawn
The mirrored surface is laced with an icy frown
Screens separate me from ripened cherry trees thither
Here, by the raised bed curtain, a cassia candle withers
I write a long letter for you before the evening’s post
Sweet dreams are just so hard to find
Two butterflies sway like silent shadows
Crossing the field where old orchids pine
Ghost Festival 中元作
绛节飘飖宫国来, jiāng jié piāo yáo gōng guó lái,
中元朝拜上清回。 zhōng yuán cháo bài shàng qīng huí。
羊权须得金条脱, yáng quán xū dé;děi;de jīn tiáo tuō,
温峤终虚玉镜台。 wēn jiào zhōng xū yù jìng tái。
曾省惊眠闻雨过, céng;zēng shěng;xǐng jīng mián wén yǔ guò,
不知迷路为花开。 bù zhī mí lù wèi;wéi huā kāi。
有娀未抵瀛洲远, yǒu sōng wèi dǐ yíng zhōu yuǎn,
青雀如何鸩鸟媒。 qīng qiāo rú hé zhèn niǎo méi。
Festival streamers wave from the vacated city’s walls
This day of the dead, priests return to the temple courts
Although Yang Quan offered his love bracelets of gold
Wen Jiao finally arrived at a jade dressing table empty to behold
Once, one’s sleep was disturbed by the sounds of rain
One did’nt know where the flowers opened to reveal the hidden path
The woman of Song wasn’t as distant as Fairyland
How could my poison feathered bird ever marry the blue sparrow?
Two Poems on the Hibiscus 槿花二首
燕体伤风力, yàn tǐ shāng fēng lì,
鸡香积露文。 jī xiāng jī lù;lòu wén。
殷鲜一相杂, yīn;yān xiān yī xiàng;xiāng zá,
啼笑两难分。 tí xiào liǎng nán fēn。
月里宁无姊, yuè lǐ nìng;níng wú zǐ,
云中亦有君。 yún zhōng yì yǒu jūn。
三清与仙岛, sān qīng yǔ xiān dǎo,
何事亦离群。 hé shì yì lí qún。
珠馆薰燃久, zhū guǎn xūn rán jiǔ,
玉房梳扫馀。 yù fáng shū sào;sǎo yú。
烧兰才作烛, shāo lán cái zuò zhú,
襞锦不成书。 bì jǐn bù chéng shū。
本以亭亭远, běn yǐ tíng tíng yuǎn,
翻嫌眽眽疏。 fān xián mò mò shū。
回头问残照, huí tóu wèn cán zhào,
残照更空虚。 cán zhào gèng;gēng kōng xū。
First Poem
Like a frail sparrow, you are whipped by the cruel wind
Releasing your pent up chicken flavored scent
The dark and the vibrant are mixed together
Crying and laughing at once, inseparable
Don’t you prefer to dwell on the moon?
Or where the Cloud goddess has her habitude? [106]
The universe has three levels and Fairy Island
How can you possible leave us behind!
Second Poem
Long lingers the incense in your pearly temple
Your Dao sanctuary has been groomed to no end[107]
Bright as lotus oil burning in the candle
Flowers like folded silk, on which no pen can write
You are so very far away
That amorous smile pushes me away
I turn my head towards the glow of the sunset
How empty it seems!
The Demon 袜
尝闻宓妃袜, cháng wén mì fēi wà,
渡水欲生尘。 dù shuǐ yù shēng chén。
好借常娥著, hǎo;hào jiè cháng é zhù;zhuó;zhāo,
清秋踏月轮。 qīng qiū tà yuè lún;qiāng。
The demon sprite Mi Fei
Sought to cross the water and become mortal, so we reason
How wonderful would it be were Chang E
To lend me her lunar wheel this autumn season
Repeated Feelings 有感二首
其一 qí yī
九服归元化, jiǔ fú guī yuán huà;huā,
三灵叶睿图。 sān líng yè ruì tú。
如何本初辈, rú hé běn chū bèi,
自取屈牦诛。 zì qǔ qū máo zhū。
有甚当车泣, yǒu shèn dāng;dàng chē qì,
因劳下殿趋。 yīn láo xià diàn qū。
何成奏云物, hé chéng zòu yún wù,
直是灭萑苻。 zhí shì miè huán fú。
证逮符书密, zhèng dǎi fú shū mì,
辞连性命俱。 cí lián xìng mìng jù;jū。
竟缘尊汉相, jìng yuán zūn hàn xiàng;xiāng,
不早辨胡雏。 bù zǎo biàn hú chú。
鬼箓分朝部, guǐ lù fēn cháo;zhāo bù,
军烽照上都。 jūn fēng zhào shàng dōu;dū。
敢云堪恸哭, gǎn yún kān tòng kū,
未免怨洪炉。 wèi miǎn yuàn hóng lú。
其二 qí èr
丹陛犹敷奏, dān bì yóu fū zòu,
彤庭欻战争。 tóng tíng hū;chuā zhàn zhēng。
临危对卢植, lín wēi duì lú zhí,
始悔用庞萌。 shǐ huǐ yòng páng méng。
御仗收前殿, yù zhàng shōu qián diàn,
凶徒剧背城。 xiōng tú jù bèi;bēi chéng。
苍黄五色棒, cāng huáng wǔ sè bàng,
掩遏一阳生。 yǎn è yī yáng shēng。
古有清君侧, gǔ yǒu qīng jūn cè,
今非乏老成。 jīn fēi fá lǎo chéng 。
素心虽未易, sù xīn suī wèi yì,
此举太无名。 cǐ jǔ tài wú míng。
谁瞑衔冤目, shuí míng xián yuān mù,
宁吞欲绝声。 nìng;níng tūn yù jué shēng。
近闻开寿宴, jìn wén kāi shòu yàn,
不废用咸英。 bù fèi yòng xián;xiān yīng
First Poem[108]
Empyreal justice returns to the 9 lands[109]
Earth, heaven and mortals are in accord
How could such a man as Official Chu Bei
Or Official Chu Mao be punished and slain
They wept by the carriage
As it hastened from the palace
One toyed with the clouds
Just to destroy Huanfu station?
The punishment register was thick with name after name
Every one would bid a final farewell after taking the blame
So it was that all respected the Han Chancellor
But too late learned to avoid the omens of the beggars of Hu
The lists of the dead split the court and government in two
The soldier’s battles lighted up Xanadu
Were the heavens courageous enough to mourn
More likely they would just blame this oven in which we burn
Second Poem
From vermillion steps a memorial rose to the king
Scenes of war suddenly appeared in the palace’ red wing
Lu Zhi was by a grave illness beset
When Pang Meng’s first efforts caused much regret
The honor guard entered the palace halls
Foot soldiers made a last stand by the city walls
Above the panic, the staffs of five colors
Covered the nation with a winter pallor
Once, the emperor had trusted kin at his side
Now there is no elder to advise with a clear eye
Although true goals are not easy to attain
Here things just turned out too insane
For the wronged, who will finally close their eyes?
Or listen, preferring those inconsolable cries?
I heard recently of a longevity feast
Would that all the flowers not be wasted at least
Feelings Repeated 重有感
玉帐牙旗得上游, yù zhàng yá qí dé;děi;de shàng yóu,
安危须共主君忧。 ān wēi xū gòng zhǔ jūn yōu;yǒu。
窦融表已来关右, dòu róng biǎo yǐ lái guān yòu,
陶侃军宜次石头。 táo kǎn jūn yí cì shí tóu。
岂有蛟龙愁失水, qǐ yǒu jiāo lóng chóu shī shuǐ,
更无鹰隼与高秋。 gèng;gēng wú yīng sǔn yǔ gāo qiū。
昼号夜哭兼幽显, zhòu hào yè kū jiān yōu xiǎn,
早晚星关雪涕收。 zǎo wǎn xīng guān xuě tì shōu。
Jade curtains and toothy banners on the expedition’s march
All, including the emperor, worry about safety and peril
Already the memorial to Dou Rong appears to the right of the Pass,
Tao Kan’s soldiers should go calm things down in Shitou
How could the flood dragon be alarmed at the water loss?
Yet hawks and falcons provide no aid in the Autumn frost
Day and night weeps, hell twice appears
It is early evening, the Starry Palace receives snowy tears
The Chu River 曲江
望断平时翠辇过, wàng duàn píng shí cuì niǎn guò,
空闻子夜鬼悲歌。 kōng wén zǐ yè guǐ bēi gē。
金舆不返倾城色, jīn yú bù fǎn qīng chéng sè,
玉殿犹分下苑波。 yù diàn yóu fēn xià yuàn bō。
死忆华亭闻唳鹤, sǐ yì huā;huá tíng wén lì hè,
老忧王室泣铜驼。 lǎo yōu;yǒu wáng shì qì tóng tuó。
天荒地变心虽折, tiān huāng dì biàn xīn suī zhé;shé,
若比阳春意未多。 ruò bǐ yáng chūn yì wèi duō。
My sight is interrupted, though normally the kingfisher carriage passes by
At midnight, in the emptiness one hears a ghost sing a plaintive cry
The golden harness does not bring his fabled courtesans in tow
Parted from the jade palace gardens, the waters rush along so
The dying recall the sounds of the Hua Pavilion’s crane
At the copper camel gates, the royal family, the old and worried weep in pain
An earth shaking event rips one’s heart
Yet, not much more than when vernal love lost plays its part
On My Feelings The Day I Passed The Door Where The ‘Guiltless’ Marquis Of Panyu Was Punished For Theft 故番禺侯以赃罪致不辜,事觉,母者他日过其门[110]
饮鸩非君命, yǐn zhèn fēi jūn mìng,
兹身亦厚亡。 zī shēn yì hòu wáng。
江陵从种橘, jiāng líng cóng;zòng;cōng zhǒng;zhòng jú,
交广合投香。 jiāo guǎng hé;gé tóu xiāng。
不见千金子, bù jiàn qiān jīn zǐ,
空余数仞墙。 kōng yú shù rèn qiáng。
杀人须显戮, shā rén xū xiǎn lù,
谁举汉三章。 shuí jǔ hàn sān zhāng。
The poison feathered bird was no fault of the King
But self gratification and excess led to disaster
Sweet tangerines cluster about the Jiang river tomb
Guangzhou is favored by their scent
I did not see a thousand gold sons
Just empty space before walls several ren[111] high
Executions must be in the open
Who will follow the three principles law?
Two Pages Of 40 Verses For Li Gong In Return For His Painting Of The Pines 李肱所遗画松诗书两纸得四十韵
万草已凉露, wàn cǎo yǐ liáng lù;lòu,
开图披古松。 kāi tú pī gǔ sōng。
青山遍沧海, qīng shān biàn cāng hǎi,
此树生何峰。 cǐ shù shēng hé fēng。
孤根邈无倚, gū gēn miǎo wú yǐ,
直立撑鸿濛。 zhí lì chēng hóng méng。
端如君子身, duān rú jūn zi shēn,
挺若壮士胸。 tǐng ruò zhuàng shì xiōng。
樛枝势夭矫, jiū;liáo zhī shì yāo jiǎo,
忽欲蟠拏空。 hū yù pán ná kōng。
又如惊螭走, yòu rú jīng chī zǒu,
默与奔云逢。 mò yǔ bēn yún féng。
孙枝擢细叶, sūn zhī zhuó xì yè,
旖旎狐裘茸。 yǐ nǐ hú qiú róng。
邹颠蓐发软, zōu diān rù fā;fà ruǎn,
丽姬眉黛浓。 lì;lí jī méi dài nóng。
视久眩目睛, shì jiǔ xuàn mù jīng,
倏忽变辉容。 shū hū biàn huī róng。
竦削正稠直, sǒng xiāo zhèng chóu zhí,
婀娜旋敷峰。 ē nuó xuán fū fēng。
又如洞房冷, yòu rú dòng fáng lěng,
翠被张穹笼。 cuì bèi zhāng qióng lǒng;lóng。
亦若暨罗女, yì ruò jì luó;luō nǚ,
平旦妆颜容。 píng dàn zhuāng yán róng。
细疑袭气母, xì yí xí qì mǔ,
猛若争神功。 měng ruò zhēng shén gōng。
燕雀固寂寂, yàn què gù jì jì
雾露常冲冲。 wù lù;lòu cháng chōng chōng。
香兰愧伤暮, xiāng lán kuì shāng mù,
碧竹惭空中。 bì zhú cán kōng zhōng。
可集呈瑞凤, kě jí chéng ruì fèng,
堪藏行雨龙。 kān zàng;cáng xíng;háng;xìng yǔ lóng。
淮山桂偃蹇, huái shān guì yǎn jiǎn,
蜀郡桑重童。 shǔ jùn sāng zhòng;chóng tóng。
枝条亮眇脆, zhī tiáo liàng miǎo cuì,
灵气何由同。 líng qì hé yóu tóng;tòng。
昔闻咸阳帝, xī wén xián;xiān yáng dì,
近说稽山侬。 jìn shuō;shuì qǐ shān nóng。
或著仙人号, huò zhù;zhuó;zhāo xiān rén hào,
或以大夫封。 huò yǐ dà fū fēng。
终南与清都, zhōng nán yǔ qīng dōu;dū,
烟雨遥相通。 yān yǔ yáo xiāng tōng。
安知夜夜意, ān zhī yè yè yì,
不起西南风。 bù qǐ xī nán fēng。
美人昔清兴, měi rén xī qīng xìng;xīng,
重之犹月钟。 zhòng;chóng zhī yóu yuè zhōng。
宝笥十八九, bǎo sì shí bā jiǔ,
香缇千万重。 xiāng tí qiān wàn zhòng;chóng。
一旦鬼瞰室, yī dàn guǐ kàn shì,
稠叠张羉罿。 chóu dié zhāng luán tóng。
赤羽中要害, chì yǔ zhōng yào hài,
是非皆匆匆。 shì fēi jiē cōng cōng。
生如碧海月, shēng rú bì hǎi yuè,
死践霜郊蓬。 sǐ jiàn shuāng jiāo péng。
平生握中玩, píng shēng wò zhōng wán;wàn,
散失随奴童。 sàn shī suí nú tóng。
我闻照妖镜, wǒ wén zhào yāo jìng,
及与神剑锋。 jí yǔ shén jiàn fēng。
寓身会有地, yù shēn huì;kuài yǒu dì;de,
不为凡物蒙。 bù wèi;wéi fán wù méng;mēng;měng。
伊人秉兹图, yī rén bǐng zī tú,
顾眄择所从。 gù miǎn zé suǒ cóng;zòng;cōng。
而我何为者, ér wǒ hé wèi;wéi zhě,
开颜捧灵踪。 kāi yán pěng líng zōng。
报以漆鸣琴, bào yǐ qī míng qín,
悬之真珠栊。 xuán zhī zhēn zhū lóng。
是时方暑夏, shì shí fāng shǔ xià,
座内若严冬。 zuò nèi ruò yán dōng。
忆昔谢四骑, yì xī xiè sì qí,
学仙玉阳东。 xué xiān yù yáng dōng。
千株尽若此, qiān zhū jìn;jǐn ruò cǐ,
路入琼瑶宫。 lù rù qióng yáo gōng。
口咏玄云歌, kǒu yǒng xuán yún gē,
手把金芙蓉。 shǒu bǎ jīn fú róng。
浓蔼深霓袖, nóng ǎi shēn ní xiù,
色映琅玕中。 sè yìng láng gān zhōng。
悲哉堕世网, bēi zāi duò shì wǎng,
去之若遗弓。 qù zhī ruò yí gōng。
形魄天坛上, xíng pò tiān tán shàng,
海日高瞳瞳。 hǎi rì gāo tóng tóng。
终骑紫鸾归, zhōng qí zǐ luán guī,
持寄扶桑翁。 chí jì fú sāng wēng。
A cool dew covers ten thousand plants[112]
I open the scroll to reveal the old pines
Everywhere the mountains are covered with a sea of green
How they grow on such peaks remains to be seen?
Unaided, their lonely roots spread far
With nature’s vigor, the trunks are straight
A distinguished mien graces their crest
As sturdy as a brave knight’s chest
The branches extend gently, hanging down
Suddenly coiling upwards as if to snatch the empty sky .
Like hornless dragons they flee
Rushing up to the clouds silently
Tender leaves grow from youthful sprigs
Soft as fox fur swirls and rolls.
Thick and rich as a child’s frowsy forehead.
Or a beautiful concubine’s dark eyebrows instead?
Looking long at your work dazzles me
Then suddenly it changes into fresh glorious scenes
Sir please forgive what I said about the straight and true
Now they seem to drag and pull at a woman’s lithe figure.
They dip down into a bleak and forlorn place
As if in green kingfisher quilts draped
Or like the maidens of Ji Luo[113]
Their faces adorned as daybreak’s light radiant pours
One wonders how such tender brush strokes capture this hardy spirit
Or when thick, challenge the celestial woodsman’s tools
Sparrows and swallows above are ever quieter
The fog arises often, ever thicker
The thick lotus is shamed when sunset arrives so soon
The green bamboo that it is so empty inside
Perhaps the pines may assume the shape of a phoenix charm
Or shelter the Dragon that makes the rains form
The Cassia trees of Huai mountain curl and fall
The mulberry trees of Shu form a canopy[114]
Branches appear so fragile and weak
Wherefore this power so deep?
In olden times, one knew of the Xianyang King
Recently, one speaks of he of Ji Mountain
A pine may be blessed as a god[115]
Or become a high minister when an emperor nods
Finally, the southern lands and the northern capital,
The distant fog and rain combine.
With each night of quiet and peace
Will the Southwest wind arise or cease ?
Once, a great beauty appreciated you
As one would a moon shaped clock
More than her eighteen or nineteen jewelry baskets she cared
Or her red, fragrant silk in countless layers.
A demon stole into her chamber
Spread wide its dense net to catch the luan
A carmine feathered arrow proved its lethal intent
To be or not to be was settled in an instant
Life is like the green seas and the moon
Death treads the frosty outskirts of fairyland
All that she handled in her life
Was lost and dispersed through servants and strife
I have heard of the monster-revealing mirror[116]
As well as the celestial’s sharp sword
For each body there resides a space
Where common things have no place
His Excellency grasped this picture
And for it sought a suitable owner
Being the chosen one pleases me
I smile, and walk with a light step you see!
In return I gave him the qin with lacquered birds
I hung you among curtains of true pearls
Then, summer was steamy and hot
Inside, it was more like deep winter than not
I recall days I rebuffed the carriage rides
And I studied the Way at East Yuyang Mountain
Where in their thousands, clustered the pines
And the road led to Qiongyuan Shrine
One would chant the Dark Cloud song[117]
Holding the golden lotus in one’s palm
The thick haze curled about my rainbow colored sleeves
Their light reflecting off of the bamboo stalks and leaves
Damn, how I have fallen into this mortal net so low
And I will leave, lost to the Emperor, like his bow[118]
My soul rises to the Heavenly Temple with devotion
I view the morning sun in its brilliance rise over the ocean
In the end this purple phoenix’ will finally return
Having entrusted you to old Fu Sang[119]
Notes:
[1] The goddess of the moon, said to live with a three legged toad and a rabbit, and banished for stealing the pills of immortality from the Jade Emperor’s garden. In this poem, LSY could also be referring to a Daoist nun, who doesn’t wear makeup.
[2] The Herd Boy lived in the Milky Way and met his lover, the Spinning Maiden, once a year on a bridge of magpies.
[3] LSY here seems to be referring obliquely to palace concubines
[4] Legend about a woman who drowned and seeks to rejoin the world of mortals
[5] As in mansions and palaces
[6] The poem refers to an emperor who sought the elixir of immortaily in vain.
[7] A mirror with a frame in the shape of the Phoenix bird
[8] Referring to a punitive army expedition to quell one of the many rebellions the Tang Dynasty faced.
[9] Obliquely referring to traitors and schemers who won the Emperor’s confidence. The great An Lushan rebellion, for example, was started by a racially mixed official who had won the trust of the Tang Emperor.
[10] Daoism was one of the major Chinese religions, and had priestesses as well as monks. They wore rainbow colored garments.
[11] Moth eyebrows were fashionable among ladies in the Tang dynasty
[12] An official who represented the Emperor in provincial districts
[13] A great family of the Han(?) dynasty into whom the beautiful Miss No Worries married, to her regret.
[14] The Chinese New Year, around February of each year.
[15] Spring is often associated with carnal passion and love.
[16] Xi Zi and Mi Fei were great beauties of legend, and consorts of emperors.
[17] This poem uses several allusions, almost one per line, to describe the peony flower. The Lady of Wei wanted to meet Confucius and hid behind a screen to observe him, after she invited him. The Marquis was so entranced by his handsome boatman that he provided him a coverlet to sleep in.
[18] Hands waving upside down was also a popular dance
[19] About a very rich man who burned candles instead of firewood, an expensive thing to do.
[20] Xun lin used fragrance pouches made in special kilns. It was said that the place he sat retained his perfume for three days.
[21] Refers to a dream a poet had in which another famous poet appeared and demanded a multicolored brush. After he gave him the brush, he woke up and never was able to write good verse again. In this poem, LSY obliquely suggests his mentor provided him with a fine brush with which to seduce a concubine – the so called morning cloud.
[22] This poem uses several allusions, almost one per line, to describe the peony flower.
[23] Screens, fans and other furnishings were often decorated with pictures of various real and imaginary creatures.
[24] Jade is used frequently to connote something precious, magical, sensual, as well as green or white colors and elements of the Daoist celestial kingdom.
[25] Can refer to the poet sending his letters to friends and lovers
[26] An appreciation for someone who cared for the young LSY. Or thanks for Ling hu Hu’s teaching of parallel prose and apprenticeship to LSY.
[27] Shangyin changed from Daoism to Buddhism in his life. The poem might also refer to this, or a change of position in his government career.
[28] Referring to how young talent was wasted in the Capitol, even after the rigorous examinations. LSY finally passed his examinations, but did not get the high ranking government position he felt he deserved.
[29] Refers to a type of phoenix, sometimes male, sometimes female.
[30] Early in the morning
[31] Of Immortals, from Daoist mythology
[32] Bamboos and bamboo leaves often signify loneliness and despair.
[33] The poet writes that the poem was written about a tower in Yingyang, where the vice minister was the prefect, and LSY’s friend.
[34] Mandarin ducks stayed with their partners for life
[35] Red cherry may allude to the singer’s mouth opening when she sings
[36] Said to live on the moon with Chang E
[37] The mythical Chinese tiger is like a dragon, with wings
[38] By the Tang dynasty Buddhism had been introduced to China from India, as captured in the great novel Travel to the West, where the Monkey King escorts a monk to obtain the Buddhist sutras from India.
[39] A tree whose palm leaves were written Buddhist scriptures in Sanskrit.
[40] One of the 5 holy mountains of China
[41] The great river said to be the source of Chinese civilization
[42] The lotus as a symbol of friendship, even when withered. The two recipients were sons of a former patron.
[43] The way to enlightenmenight, as explained in Daoist founder Lao Zi’s classic The Way
[44] Daoism attempted to understand the origin and composition of the elixir of immortality, an obsession of several emperors and kings. LSY studied Daoism in his youth.
[45] Although there was a Terrace of Yen or Terrace of Gold with the same Chinese name built by King Chao of Yen (312-279BC) I prefer to think of it as a mythical place of swallows, a creature which runs throughout LSY’s poems. The swallow in mythology is a harbinger of Spring, and a sign of success and marriage. When a swallow builds a nest on a house, it is a sign someone will soon get married.
[46] Corals were once caught be casting iron nets, in which the coral would grow.
[47] The home of Miss No Worry (literally Mo Chou ), in two ancient songs, one of which goes
Where does No Worry live?/She lives west of the Stone City/A light boat rowed by two oars/ Brings No Worry here fast. The other was written by Emperor Wu of Liang, about a beautiful girl forced into marriage in the rich Lu family, and who loved the man next door. Yellow shades refers to the nether world.
[48] Men used to carry their crossbows or slingshots as signs of virility
[49] Referring to the king’s soul who was trapped in the body of a cuckoo in the forest.
[50] Chang E’s home on the moon
[51] Destined to meet her lover the Cowherd once a year
[52] EA screen made of mother of pearl i.e. mica
[53] The Big Dipper. The Chinese were great astronomers.
[54] Classic poems that refer to a man who lost his kingdom and tried to commit suicide, and the southern kingdom of Chu.
[55] Curtain frames shaped like parrot beaks
[56] Letters were often written on silk
[57] Goddess Little Maid of the Blue Stream. There was an immortal called White Stone Lad.
[58] A remote place that LSY may even have visited
[59] A dancer was said to be so light and nimble she could dance on one’s palm
[60] Insect that sounds at night
[61] Perhaps referring to one of the gates of the Imperial capital Chang An.
[62] Literally then thousand, used to indicate numbers without limit.
[63] On the seventh month of the lunar year
[64] A special chessboard that was convex at the center
[65] An indirect refernce to the governor from the East who married Willow. She is compared to his native melons. Her heart has turned cold as ice because she does not love him.
[66] The classic calligraphy by Wang Xizhi of the Jin Dynasty (353AD)
[67] LSY was born in Henei county, now Qinyang county in Henan province.
[68] A Daoist temple, indirectly to the Jade Emperor’s dominions.
[69] Icons and images in the temple
[70] LSY reputedly had love affairs, or loved, certain Daoist nuns.
[71] A gate of the Imperial Capitol
[72] Messenger of the Goddess of the West, who carried the elixir of immortaility to her mortal lover king.
[73] The three legged toad who lived on the moon with the Moon Goddess Chang E.
[74] Home of the Immortals
[75] Elm seeds are shaped like money and references could be to a prostitute and her customer.
[76] The energy that surrounds and penetrates the mortal world., akin to the German philosopher Schoepenhauer’s will.
[77] In the Daoist land of the Immortals. As is common with LSY, he could be associating fruit with a woman he is attracted to.
[78] Reference to the numerous rebellions and corruption of the Late Tang. LSY was fiercely patriotic.
[79] The Daoist (also called Taoism) philosophy and way of living started by Lao Zi around 500BC. In his early years LSY studied Daoism.
[80] The essence of Daoism
[81] A type of chanted scripture. The human body’s seven orifices.
[82] Golden bells used in temples were used to scare away evil spirits
[83] A mythical tree that was grown and tended to on the moon by an Immortal woodcutter
[84] The three islands of the Immortals
[85] China in ancient times was said to comprise nine dominions
[86] Tao in Cantonese, Dao in mandarin pronunciation. The written character is the same.
[87] Daoist priests and nuns wore rainbow colored clothes at ceremonies.
[88] Daoist hermits would retreat to mountain caves to study the Way.
[89] The pills of immortality also comprised a red substance, perhaps cinnamon or cinnabar.
[90] Metaphor for the poet himself
[91] Emperors commissioned stone tablets to record their achievements
[92] The First Emperor, of the state of Qin, who united the different kingdoms into the core of what is modern China.
[93] The Daoist supreme god is said to dwell in a city with twelve walls of clouds colored like jade
[94] The Daoist supreme god is said to dwell in a city with twelve walls of clouds colored like jade
[95] Heaven in Daoist belief
[96] The crystal bowl as indicating a glorious life in a precious place
[97] A flute player who became immortal
[98] Literally ‘Huge Cliff’, an immortal
[99] ThAn immortal who let her phoenix shaped pendant behind with the mortal who loved her
[100] Images painted on the zither, possible alluding to a mythical fish who loved listening to the goddess of the Xiang river’s zither
[101] In this story a lord welcomed an admiring woman into his boat and made love to her under perfumed sheets.
[102] Moon
[103] Writing paper with phoenix imprints used in the palace, often used by Daoists.
[104] Fictitious emperor who seduced the Queen Mother of the West and gained immortality
[105] This poem is about an abortion, shrouded in secrecy, perhaps from a husband.
[106] Can refer to an immortal, or a prostitute/concubine.
[107] LSY was attracted to Daoist nuns
[108] These poems refer to the Sweet Dew incident, an attempted uprising by the Tang Emperor and his chief minister against the palace eunuchs. LSY was in his late teens at the time.
[109] This poem is about the Sweet Due incident, where the emperor and his officials failed to assassinate the palace eunuchs.
[110] The marquis was corrupt and his son, guiltless, was executed for the father’s crime
[111] Fathom: 8 feet
[112] The painting was a gift from Li Gong, who passed the Literary Examination with LSY in 837AD.
[113] Two famous beauties of the fifth century who were presented as gifts to the King of Wu, and helped engineer his downfall.
[114] Referring to trees that twist among each other, and a huge mulberry tree that had a canopy like top.
[115] An Emperor of Qin made a sacrifice on Tai mountain and after a storm came, sheltered under a pine tree which he subsequently made a ‘high minister’
[116] A mirror that reflected the images of monsters, and a sword that could only be welded by virtous kings, like in the legend of King Arthur.
[117] A song sung by one of the ladies in waiting to the Queen Mother of the West
[118] A King of Chu lost his bow and did not bother to look for it, saying one man’s loss is another man’s gain.
[119] The old immortal ruled over a magic island in the sea on which are two mulberry tree with berries of immortality. This poem was a gift in return for a painting that LSY much admired. It describes the painting and then goes on to discuss the mortal condition.