Gazing at the Snow Peak of Zhongnan

Above the mountain dark and deepThe snow clouds form a floating quill;But though these woods are clear and bright,Inside the town I feel it chill.   Chinese Pronunciation     終南望餘雪 Zhōng Nán Wàng Yú Xuě     終南陰嶺秀, Zhōng nán yīn lǐng xiù , 積雪浮雲端。 …

Read More

Farewell to Cui

229. Farewell to Cui  Pei Di Traversing mountains thin and deepAnd on through hills and dales revered;For just a day you’ll be a manOf Eden, land of love and cheer.   Chinese Pronunciation     送崔九 Sòng cuī jiǔ     歸山深淺去, Guī shān shēn qiǎn qù, …

Read More

Bamboo Retreat

Alone, I sit serene within a bamboo grove,At ease, I strum the lute and hum a song.Unknown into the forest deep I’ll roveUntil the shining moon has sung along.   Chinese 竹里館 獨坐幽篁裡,彈琴復長嘯。深林人不知,明月來相照。  Pronunciation Zhú Lǐ Guǎn Dú zuò yōu huáng lǐ,Dàn qín fù cháng xiào。Shēn lín rén bù zhī,Míng yuè lái …

Read More

Deer Woods

Inside the empty hills I see no men,The human words I hear are merely echoes.Returning deep within the woods again,The light reflects atop, where green moss grows.   Chinese 鹿柴 空山不見人,但聞人語響。返景入深林,復照青苔上。  Pronunciation Lù Chái Kōng shān bù jiàn rén,Dàn wén rén yǔ xiǎng。Fǎn jǐng rù shēn lín,Fù zhào qīng tái shàng。  Literal …

Read More

Saying Goodbye at a Water Pavilion Feast

Silent night, deserted town,A cold pond and a warehouse wall.The frontier cicadas already buzz,And the tree leaves change for fall.Your road will touch the distant sky,But we’ll sing until the morning call.Unable to watch you leave us behind,The plunging moon like a hook befalls. Original …

Read More

Returning to the Lake Pavilion at Night

As the sun dies down I lie in the lake pavilion,Heart disturbed and drawn by various affairs;Sleep ruined, I wake and drink, intoxicated,Sitting and waiting in the cool night air. Rain in the pines has sent my rattan hat afloat,The river wind has pierced my hempen …

Read More

Early Spring

Hugging the path in early springWe walk here hand in hand;Though grass has yet to spring to life,To me it’s fresh-laid land. Nothing to do, pursuing the blooms,The willows have taught my mind:Again and again I come and goTo savor a cup of wine.  Original poem in …

Read More