My breath is a red bird
In the auburn sky of your hair
When I embrace you
Your legs grow long beyond words

My breath becomes a red horse
I can tell from my burning cheeks
We are destitute our nights are short
Let’s make love at full tilt

translated by Talat S. Halman

Spring is bright and splendid in the city of Lo-yang;
But the man of Lo-yang grows old in another land.
The willows darken on the Prince of Wei’s embankment;
At this time I am confused and bewildered.

Alongside the blossoming peach, the spring waters run clear;
Mandarin ducks bathe in their freshness.
My regret gathers force in the setting sun;
I think of you, but you do not know it.

translated by Lois M. Fusek

The night of our parting in the red tower is enough for sorrow;
By the fragrant lamp, the tasseled screen is but half rolled up.
As I leave the moon is just fading;
She says goodbye mixed with tears.

The guitar is ornamented with gold and kingfisher feathers;
From its strings come the caroling cries of orioles.
Urging me to return soon,
She is like a flower in the window!

translated by Lois M. Fusek

Going on always on and on
alive, but parted from you
gone ten thousand miles and more
each to a far edge of the sky

the road is hard and long
with nothing sure about meeting again
Tartar horses lean to the northern wind
Viet birds nest on southern boughs

days advance, the parting grows long
days advance, the sash grows loose
floating clouds hide the bright sun
the wanderer can think of no return

loving you I became old
suddenly the time is late–
enough I speak no more
try hard to stay well

translated by Charles Hartman

You took ship: floating, floating, noonday sun.
I’ll swear my heart dwelt upon you,
in my heart you dwell secure.

You took ship: floating, floating, away.
I’ll swear my heart dwells with you:
go freely, stay safe.

translated by J.P. Seaton

There’s something I have learned from what I’ve lived through:
If you’re to live something, live it to its fullest
Your beloved should fall exhausted from your kisses
You should fall exhausted from smelling a flower

One can watch the sky for hours
Can for hours watch the sea, a bird, a child
To live on earth is to mingle with it
Growing roots that cannot be eradicated

When you hug a friend you should hug him vigorously
You should fight with all your muscles, body, passion
And once you stretch out on the hot sand
You should rest like a grain of sand, a leaf, a stone

One should listen to all the beautiful music on earth
So as to fill all his being with sounds and songs
One should dive into life as if
Diving from a rock into an emerald sea

Distant lands should lure you, people…

it’s the ankles
really
slender shapely
connecting those lovely feet
to those long legs
not to mention
the knees
friends say
I’m a leg man
who am I
to deny
what history has
proved to be true
in your case
naturally
a reaffirmation
of my predilection
for ankles
and knees
and all they connect
to what you stand upon
smiling at me

A country isn’t a rock. It’s not an extension of one’s self. It’s what it stands for. It’s what it stands for when standing for something is the most difficult.