no words can describe
the emotions of spring
translated by David Young
Chinese poetry
Flowers and Moonlight on the Spring River by Yang-ti
The evening river is level and motionless–
The spring colours just open to their full.
Suddenly a wave carries the moon away
And the tidal water comes with its freight of stars.
translated by Arthur Waley
A Riddle and a Gift by Li Shang-yin
A brocade curtain parts: there’s
the legendary beauty, Madam Wei!
embroided quilts, meantime,
still cloak the boatman’s shoulders. . .
or think of the slow dance, Hanging Hands,
and carved jade dangling from a sash
and the fast dance, Bending Waist,
with a fluttering saffron skirt!
colors flaring from candles
a rich man never thinks to trim
and fragrance like that of the holy man
who needed no incense or perfume. . .
I dreamed I was that poor poet
who got hold of a genius’s brush:
wanting to create such leaves, such blooms,
that I could send to you
my lady of dawn clouds,
my peony.
translated by David Young
from the Book of Songs (Odes): 91
Blue blue your collar,
sad sad my heart:
though I do not go to you,
why don’t you send word?
Blue blue your belt-stone,
sad sad my thoughts:
though I do not go to you,
why don’t you come?
Restless, heedless,
I walk the gate tower.
One day not seeing you
is three months long.
translated by Burton Watson
anonymous 5th Century Chinese song
Oh oh–ah ah–
thoughts of you will never end!
Your left arm I used for a pillow,
and when you turned on your side, I turned with you.
translated by Burton Watson
anonymous 5th Century Chinese poem
The dodder vine trails with the long wind,
but its roots never break from the trunk they cling to.
If even these unfeeling things shun separation,
how could we, who have feelings, bear to part?
translated by Burton Watson
River Snow by Liu Tsung-yuan
A thousand mountains, no birds fly.
Ten thousand paths, no footprints.
Lone skiff, rush-cloaked old man.
Fishing alone, cold river snow.
translated by J.P. Seaton
A different translation of this poem but as Mary Tang would say, That’s what makes translations so interesting.
from Lady Midnight Songs of the Four Seasons: Autumn 6
You left in early spring, and I long
to have you back by autumn’s end.
How I hate this river flowing east:
all year, never a care for the west.
translated by David Hinton
My Love’s Gone Off To War from the Book of Songs
My love’s gone off to war,
who knows how long gone
or where O where.
Chickens settle unto nests,
an evening sun sinks away,
oxen and sheep wander in–
but my love’s gone off to war
and nothing can stop these thoughts of him.
My love’s gone off to war,
not for days or even months,
and who survives such things?
Chickens settle onto perches,
an evening sun sinks away,
oxen and sheep wander home–
but my love’s gone off to war
if hunger and thirst spared him that long.
translated by David Hinton
They Fought South of the Walls by an anonymous Chinese poet 3rd Century B.C.
They fought south of the walls
They died north of the ramparts.
Lying dead in the open, they won’t be buried,
the crows may eat them.
Tell the crows for me:
Please enjoy a sumptuous meal!
Lying dead in the open, they surely won’t be buried.
How can their rotting flesh get away from you!
The water runs deep and clear,
The rushes and reeds are dark.
The brave war steeds have died in battle,
The worthless nags neigh, running hither and thither.
The bridges have be made into buildings,
How can one go south?
How can one go north?
The grain is not harvested, how shall our lord eat?
And we who want to be loyal vassals, how can we succeed?
I think of you, fine vassals.
Fine vassals, indeed one should think of you.
In the morning you went out to attack,
In the evening you didn’t come back for the night.
translated by Hans H. Frankel
Leonard Durso 