This new year makes it fifty suddenly
gone. Thinking of life’s steady return
to rest cuts deep, driving me to spend
all morning wandering. And now, air
fresh and sky clear, I sit with friends
beside a stream flowing far away. Here,
striped bream weave the gentle current,
and calling, gulls rise over the lazy
valley. Eyes wandering distant waters,
straining, I make out Tseng Hill: it’s
meager compared to K’un-lun’s majestic
peaks, but nothing in sight rivals it.
Taking the winejar, I pour out a round,
and we start offering brimful toasts.
Who knows where today leads, or whether
things will ever be like this again?
After a few cups, my heart’s far away,
and I’ve forgotten thousand-year sorrows:
ranging to the limit of this morning’s
joy, it isn’t tomorrow I’m looking for.
translated by David Hinton
Leonard Durso 
Interesting piece from a China different that today, I wonder.
Yes, but I think the emotions it evokes are the same.
T’ao Ch’ien is so sublime, powerful and timeless. Difficult to explain how much I love his poetry and the content of it! On a side note, sometimes I feel that a bit of the the sublime in English also comes from the mastery of expression of David Hinton. Whatever it is, it’s also good for me! Thanks for posting.
I’m glad you like him, too. And yes, Hinton seems to do justice to these poets in his translations. He has become a favorite translator of mine.
after a few brims full no worries either way.
Very true.
Heart toching poem.
I’m glad you liked it.
Welcome dear.