from Substance, Shadow, and Spirit by T’ao Yüan-ming

When the body perishes the name fades too–
thinking of it, my heart’s on fire!
Let us do good and win the love of ages after;
why not bend all efforts toward that?
Wine they say can wash away care,
but surely it cannot compare to such a goal!

transalated by Burton Watson

4 thoughts on “from Substance, Shadow, and Spirit by T’ao Yüan-ming

  1. I have read the whole poem in a translation by David Hinton. I love it and find it extremely deep in its simplicity. That’s so typical T’ao Yuan Ming and that’s why I admire him so much.

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