In the past I was glad to come home
but to sadness I now return
entering our closed sunless room
I stifle my grief and write the epitaph
I lift the dark curtain in pain
startled by a cold desolate breeze
our younger daughter doesn’t realize
she still comes into the courtyard to play
I sigh every day feeling older
dazed by the transience of life
my relatives urge me to eat
at the table my tears fall in vain
translated by Red Pine
Wei Ying-wu
Cold Food Days: To My Cousins in the Capital by Wei Ying-wu
My empty rooms are bleak on a rainy day with fire banned
I sit alone and listen to orioles by the river
I’ve had the wine and seen the flowers but think about my cousins
Cold Food Day on Tuling the grass by now is green
translated by Red Pine
NOTE: Cold Food was the name given to a 3 day period in April when fires were banned.
Events on the Huai: To a Dear Friend in Kuangling by Wei Ying-wu
The earlier boat is already faint
I was hoping to cross but it wouldn’t wait
from autumn hills comes the evening bell
it’s raining in Ch’u all the way to the sea
the windblown waves recall our parting
the way I once looked has changed
a lone bird heading southeast
asks the way to Kuangling
translated by Red Pine
Entertaining Adjutant Li by Wei Ying-wu
When we were fifteen we both served at court
we climbed the red steps through incense at dawn
we toured the Han Garden in bloom
and bathed on Lishan in the snow
but the Immortal has flown and isn’t expected back
his advisors are scattered assuming they’re alive
meeting you today thinking about the past
one cup makes me happy the next one sad
translated by Red Pine
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
this seems appropriate now with the hard winter approaching: To My Cousins by Wei Ying-wu
Late last year when the capital was being looted
I sent letters by back roads to see if you survived
your answer has suddenly fallen from the sky
all we know of each other are a thousand streams of tears
translated by Red Pine
Written in Response to Court Gentleman Liu on Meeting and Parting at the South Wall on the Way Back to Yangchou on a Spring Day by Wei Ying-wu
The third month in Yangchou the city was in bloom
we met and got drunk among the flowers
we were going different directions but not very far
what the evening tide took away the morning tide brought back
translated by Red Pine
On Encountering Evening Rain While Seeing Off Li Wei by Wei Ying-wu
River of Ch’u in light rain
evening bells of Chienyeh
rows of sails spreading out
birds disappearing slowly
Ocean Gate too far to see
riverside trees a distant green
there’s no end to goodbye
a pair of silk streams soak my sleeves
translated by Red Pine
After Waiting for Censor Yuan and Professor Li at Tungte Temple, When Neither Arrives, I Send Each a Poem by Wei Ying-wu
The courtyard trees are suddenly dark
why didn’t my old friend come
it must be because he hates the heat
and spends his days on a frost-covered terrace
The glory of office comes with its burdens
retired life too means less time together
I watched for you from the upper story
until the blue ridges were almost black
translated by Red Pine
Happily Meeting an Old Friend from Liangchuan on the Huai by Wei Ying-wu
When we were both guests in Chianghan
whenever we met we left drunk
we’ve been drifting clouds ever since
following rivers ten years now
the happiness we feel is the same
though our hair has thinned and turned gray
why haven’t we gone home
and left these autumn hills on the Huai
translated by Red Pine
Leonard Durso 