This poem describes the resentment of imperial court ladies waiting alone for their lovers at night, feeling lonely, with nothing to do but look at the lovely moon. The marble steps leading to her room are collecting white dew since they are not being stepped …
Read MoreLi Bai (701-762), “Seeing Off My Friend”
Li Bai’s biography on Wikipedia Works of Li Bai available on Amazon: The Selected Poems of Li Po Five T’ang Poets Tracking the Banished Immortal: The Poetry of Li Bo and Its Critical Reception Facing the Moon: Poems of Li Bai and Du Fu …
Read MoreIn the Mountain Midst
A beautiful poem by Li Bai (701-762) explaining why he became a hermit. My Translation In the Mountain Midst, a Question Asked and Answered You ask me why I live in the mountain of blue and green, And with a smile I answer not, for …
Read MoreDu Fu’s “Orphaned Goose”
This poem was written in the last two years of Du Fu’s life. It is using the orphaned goose as a symbol of noble men separated from society, but longing to be a part of it. He wrote this poem while on a trip, not …
Read MoreThe emperor and his parted lover
This one by Li Yu (李煜), last emperor of the Southern Tang dynasty, expresses his sadness at being apart from his lover and unable to join her. My Translation I climb the western wing Silent and alone; The sickle moon, A single tree, A courtyard …
Read MoreEnchanted Lady
This poem tells the story of a man visiting his lover, who cannot leave the palace. It was written by Li Yu (937–978 AD), last emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and probably directed to his lover, his wife’s sister and a woman renowned for …
Read MoreChallenge round: tackling Du Fu’s “Looking to Spring”
Okay boys and girls, let’s go for the challenge round and see if we can tackle a classical Chinese poem from the Tang Dynasty. This one is by Du Fu and is called “Looking to Spring.” Du Fu, a government official, wrote it while being …
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