No longer Prefect, this isn’t home anymore.
I planted day lillies and cassia for nothing.
Cassia renowned for enticing us to stay on,
day-lilies never making it sorrow forgotten:
they’re a far cry from this riverside moon,
come lingering our farewell step after step.
translated by David Hinton
9th Century Chinese poetry
Bamboo Branch Song by Liu Yuxi
Willows are green, green and the river water flat.
I hear a man on the river singing me songs
and see sun on my east, rain to my west.
The sun is shying off, but I feel his shine.
translated by Tony Barnstone and Chou Ping
A Spring in Autumn by Xue Tao
Behind a ribbon of evening mist, a chill sky distills,
and a melody of far waterfalls like ten silk strings
comes to my pillow to tug feelings,
keeping me sleepless in sorrow past midnight.
translated by Tony Barnstone & Chou Ping
Farewell by Yü Hsüan-chi
All those tender nights upstairs in the capital, hearts content
together—I never guessed my pure-spirit love would leave.
Now, dozing and waking, I don’t mention drifting clouds gone
who knows where. The lamp burns low. A wild moth flutters.
translated by David Hinton
Untitled Poem by Li Shang-yin
It’s so hard to be together, and so hard to part: a tender
east wind is powerless: the hundred blossoms crumble:
the heart-thread doesn’t end until the silkworm’s dead,
and tears don’t dry until the candle’s burnt into ash:
she grieves, seeing white hair in her morning mirror,
and chanting at night, she feels the chill of moonlight:
exquisite Paradise Mountain—it isn’t so very far away,
and that azure bird can show us the way back anytime.
translated by David Hinton
A Clear Stream in Ch’ih-chou by Tu Mu
I’ve played all day in the stream. Not twilight’s yellow
lights autumn’s destined coming, root of this white hair.
What is it I’ve trusted you to rinse a thousand times away,
until not, the dust fouling my brush-tip leaves no trace?
translated by David Hinton
Drinking Alone in a Small Garden by Li Shang-yin
Who could have knit the willow’s belts?
The flower buds are unwilling to open yet.
Only a pair of dancing butterflies are left;
Not a single person has come here.
I half unfold the dragon-whisker mat,
And lightly pour into the horse-brain cup.
Every year the arrival of spring is uncertain;
I have been deceived by the early blooming plum!
translated by James J.Y. Liu
The Coat of Gold Brocade by Du Qiuniang
I tell you, don’t adore your coat of gold brocade.
I tell you, adore the short spell of youth.
When the blossom is ready it must be plucked.
Don’t wait till flowers drop and break the empty twig.
treanslated by Tony Barnstone & Chou Ping
Traveling By River In Lınghan by Liu Tsung-yuan
Sailing south on infested waters into the land of mist
horizon of tanglehead stretching to the sea
hills marked by elephant swaths after a rain
dragon drool rising from the depths in the sun
poison-spitting frogs that can see a traveler’s shadow
a typhoon sky frightening the passengers on board
my concerns however are other than these
namely how to bear white hair and the disappearing years
translated by Red Pine
Yüeh-yang Tower by Li Shang-yin
Wishing to disperse for once the sorrows of a lifetime,
I mount the Yüeh-yang Tower above the Tung-t’ing lake.
Over ten thousand miles I could have sailed in high spirits,
But alas, there are dragons who know how to upset the boat!
traslated by James J.Y. Liu
Leonard Durso 