I’m like some partridge or quail—
going south, then flying lazily north.
And now I’ve come to find you here,
a little wine returns me to the moon.
translated by David Hinton
Chinese poet
A Friend Stays The Night by Li Po
Rinsing sorrows of a thousand forevers
away, we linger out a hundred jars of wine,
the clear night’s clarity filling small talk,
a lucid moon keeping us awake. And after
we’re drunk, we sleep in empty mountains,
all heaven our blanket, earth our pillow.
translated by David Hinton
Thoughts in Night Quiet by Li Po
Seeing moonlight here at my bed
and thinking it was frost on the ground,
I look up, gaze at the mountain moon,
then back, dreaming of my old home.
translated by David Hinton
Teasing Tu Fu by Li Po
Here on the summit of Fan-k’o Mountain, it’s Tu Fu
under a midday sun sporting his huge farmer’s hat.
How is it you’ve gotten so thin since we parted?
Must be all those poems you’ve been suffering over.
translated by David Hinton
To Send Far Away by Li Po
So much beauty home–flowers filled the house.
So much beauty gone–nothing but this empty bed,
your embroidered quilt rolled up, never used.
It’s been three years. Your scent still lingers,
your scent gone and yet never ending.
But now you’re gone, never to return,
thoughts of you yellow leaves falling,
white dew glistening on green moss.
translated by Daviid Hinton
Avoiding Farewell in a Chin-ling Wineshop by Li Po
Breezes filling the inn with willow-blossom scents,
elegant girls serve wine, enticing us to try it.
Chin-ling friends come to see me off, I try to leave
but cannot, so we linger out another cup together.
I can’t tell anymore. Which is long and which short,
the river flowing east or thoughts farewell brings on?
translated by David Hinton
Crooked River Meditation by Tu Fu
Each falling petal diminishes spring.
Ten thousand of them sadden me.
Spring flowers pale, and I grieve,
and ease my remorse with wine.
Kingfishers nest in the temple hall.
A stone unicorn adorns a royal grave.
Taking my pleasures where I find them,
I fill my cup again.
translated by Sam Hamill
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
To Secretary Yang by Wei Ying-wu
Colleagues have scattered and gates are closed
the calling of birds fills a mountain town
our parting on the Yangtze seems so long ago
I notice the empty mat beside me
the boats on South Lake are moored because of rain
the screens at North Tower are rolled up due to wind
wine-tasting parties are canceled
I regret our time together has passed
translated by Red Pine
Leonard Durso 