Orioles chatter madly in trees of red blossoms
egrets converge on a lake of tall grass
everyone loves a clear mild day
boats return at dusk on waves of flutes and drums
translated by Red Pine
poetry
Replying to a Poem by Prime Minister Lu of Chinling by Tu Shen-yen
Only an impotent official
is truly surprised when things become new
red clouds giving birth to the ocean dawn
plums and willows ferrying spring across the river
clear skies inciting yellow birds
sunshine turning duckweed green
suddenly hearing a familiar tune
I think of home and dry my eyes
translated by Red Pine
On Yellow Crane Tower Hearing a Flute by Li Pai
Suddenly an exile on the way to Changsha
looking back toward Ch’ang-an I don’t see a soul
from Yellow Crane Tower I hear a jade flute
plum blossoms fall in this city in June
translated by Red Pine
Delayed on the Szechuan Road by Chang Yueh
A traveler races the sun and moon
coming and going according to plan
but autumn wind doesn’t wait
it reaches Loyang before me
translated by Red Pine
poem by Mibu No Tadami
Yes, I am in love.
They were talking about me
Before daylight,
Although I began to love
Without knowing it.
Koi su tefu
Waga na wa madaki
Tachi ni keri
Hito shirezu koso
Omoi someshi ga
translated by Kenneth Rexroth
poem by Fujiwara No Tadamichi
As I row over the plain
Of the sea and gaze
Into the distance, the waves
Merge with the bright sky.
Wata no hara
Kagi idete mireba
Hisa kata no
Kumoi ni mago
Okitsu shira nami
translated by Kenneth Rexroth
poem by The Priest Sarumaru
Deep in the mountain,
Trampling the red maple leaves,
I hear the stag cry out
In the sorrow of Autumn.
Oku yama ni
Momiji fumi wake
Naku shika no
Koe kiku toki zo
Aki wa kanashiki
translated by Kenneth Rexroth
poem by Yamanoue Okura from The Man’yoshü
Like the unchanging cliffs,
I would remain just as I am.
But I am living in this world
and cannot hold time back.
translated by Ian Hideo Levy
poem by Prince Ishihara from The Man’yoshü
I will sway this way and that
to the whims of your heart,
you who are to me
like the unique and precious jewel
nestled in a crown of hair.
translated by Ian Hideo Levy
poem by Prince Yuge from The Man’yoshü
Is it a bird
longing for the past
that soars crying
over the imperial well,
there by the evergreen?
translated by Ian Hideo Levy
Leonard Durso 