Alone, I savor wildflowers tucked in along the creek,
and there’s a yellow oriole singing in treetop depths.
Spring floods come rain-swollen and wild at twilight.
No one here at the ferry, a boat drifts across of itself.
translated by David Hinton
Wei Ying-wu
Returning East to Choukuei Village on Bathing Day: For Tuan by Wei Ying-wu
For thirty years an itinerant official
I no longer recognized the fields
but since it was my day to bathe
I traveled back to our village
the rains had stopped and the mountains were clear
The wind was warm and plants were thriving
the mountain-fed streams were deep and pure
the forests beginning to dance with light
but the bamboo was looking a bit sad
and the garden was nothing but weeds
and I was startled by the gray at your temples
and the sight of where we once played
and the heartbreaking news of departures
and the changes that had ravaged this place
I wanted to speak but who would care
and now I’m worrying about reports again
I’d be better off giving up this worldly career
fortune and fame are so hollow
compared to finally being with you
here in my declining and future years
translated by Red Pine
Earth God Day: To Water Commissioner Ts’ui and My Cousins and Relatives by Wei Ying-wu
Festivals abound in this mountain town
on Earth God Day officials stay home
sitting upstairs feeling bored
I walked out to the pond for the light
spring wind rustled the willows
I shut the garden gate at dusk
as I thought of you together in our village
disappointment slipped into my heart
translated by Red Pine
Outside My Office, Wandering In Moonlight by Wei Ying-wu
Outside this office, night such luminous depths,
the lovely moon’s a delight wandering with me.
Descending across the river, it comes halfway
adrift on dew-tinged air, then suddenly startles
autumn, scattering color through open forests,
scrawling its disk on the current’s utter clarity.
And reaching mind, it bestows boundless light
all silver-pure azure eluding us to perfection.
translated by David Hinton
Listening to Master Yuan Play the Ch’in in Chaokuo Quarter by Wei Ying-wu
On bamboo leaves and rooftops the autumn dew is clear
vermilion strings and jade harmonics multiply old feelings
Calling Crow and Departing Cranes are tunes I somehow recognize
containing as they do the sounds of a breaking heart
translated by Red Pine
Cold Food Day: To My Cousins by Wei Ying-wu
The fire ban darkens an auspicious day
I still feel the pain of our parting
seeing these flower-covered fields
reminds me of the trails of Tuling
when will we ride together again
I’m feeling much older today
translated by Red Pine
NOTE: Cold Food Day occurred 150 days after Winter Solstice (late spring). This is in the commentary by Red Pine.
Boating on South Lake with Elder Brother Yuan Liu by Wei Ying-wu
Taking time off in the enervating heat
we drifted in a skiff along the city moat
a light wind blew open our robes
a flute echoed through the woods
thin clouds darkened the water
a fine rain cooled the lotus-scented air
rather than pour out our cares
we raised our cups to the flowers
translated by Red Pine
At Yungting Temple Pi-ch’iang Happily Arrives during the Night by Wei Ying-wu
You came with New Year’s greetings
walking here alone in the bitter cold
knocking on a bamboo temple gate at night
covered with snow from your hike through the hills
after starting a fire deep in my stove
and closing the door to my empty room
we shared a gourd full of wine
and didn’t speak of all the things that went wrong
translated by Red Pine
Moonlit Night by Wei Ying-wu
A brilliant moon wanders the spring city,
thick dew luminous among fragrant grasses.
I sit, longing. Empty, this window of gauze
torn and fluttering in crystalline radiance,
crystalline radiance where it ends like this:
torn more and more, a person growing old.
translated by David Hinton
Autumn Night, Sent To Ch’iu Tan by Wei Ying-wu
This autumn night become thoughts of you,
I wander along, offer cold heaven a chant.
In mountain emptiness, a pinecone falls.
My recluse friend must not be asleep either.
translated by David Hinton
Leonard Durso 