Bitter Love Li Bai (701-762) The beauty sits behind a jeweled screen,Lamenting him with lovely, furled brows.When all I see are cheeks stained wet with tears,I wonder, where’s the one who broke his vows? Chinese 怨情李白 美人捲珠簾深坐蹙蛾眉但見淚痕濕不知心恨誰 Pronunciation Yuàn QíngLǐ Bái Měi rén juǎn zhū liánShēn zuò cù é méiDàn …
Read MoreKokinshu 1007 – "Slipping Away"
1007 Slipping away,The one I love—As I am broken. What’s the flowerThat bloomed in whiteWhen we were one? うちわたすをち方人に物まうすわれそのそこにしろくさけるはなにの花ぞも UchiwatasuOchikatabito niMono mousu wareSono soko niShiroku sakeru waNani no hana zo mo Author unknown. As the poet’s lover has not visited recently, the poet complains and …
Read MoreKokinshu 1009 – "Hatsuse River"
1009 Hatsuse River—Where ancient waters flowBeside the two-trunk tree When years have passedI hope we’ll meet againBeside the two-trunk tree はつせ河ふるかはのべにふたもとあるすぎ年をへて又もあひ見むふたもとあるすぎ Haru sarebaNobe ni mazu sakuMiredo akanu hanaMainashi niTada nanoru bekiHana no na nare ya Author unknown. The two-trunk cedar tree, the pairing with the …
Read MoreKokinshu 1008 – "When Spring Arrives"
1008 When spring arrivesAnd fields begin to bloomIf you see a flowerThat’s just a sproutMere whispers are bestUntil it’s out 春さればのべにまづさく見れどあかぬ花まひなしにただなのるべき花のななれや Haru sarebaNobe ni mazu sakuMiredo akanu hanaMainashi niTada nanoru bekiHana no na nare ya Author unknown. A reply to a poem #1007. He …
Read MoreCenter of My Soul
Center of my soul Joined in the union of desire Lost in the kiss, unwound in all directions I revel in your loneliness I revel in your missed road signs Along the map we cannot read together It is sweet, this darkness That draws us …
Read MoreFresh Wood (for Luo Xue)
Fresh Wood (for Luo Xue) Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283) A sigh, sigh sound from woods up high to low;We close the gate and cover up with fur—Spring feelings flow along the mountain gorge;At dawn I rise to touch and look at her. Chinese 贈羅雪崖樵青文天祥 蕭蕭山下人閉門衣裘單春心動溪谷曉起捫松看 Pronunciation Zèng Luó Xuě Yá …
Read MoreSongs of a New Morning
from the shorewhere I can see it allas it floats away to some other landwhere the sun continues to shinefor centuries and treetopssway in the windfilling the grasswith wandering pollen * worn outlike a flag flownfor many years * alone herewhere your lips oncehad left a mark * onceI looked …
Read MoreAs We Travel There Alone
The friends we had, the friends we leftAlong the siren streetsA signal past, a thousand theftsIn red light, white light beats Oh, where can I rest in this hidden townAs wind comes whistling throughIn light and dark, as it rains down,A dancer flails there too Somewhere she …
Read MoreMorning Sun
seeds impregnate the earth whispering and loving its children grown among the wandering souls each morning in spring where it is quiet where we sit in silence to behold the morning sun
Read MoreHudson River
For thousands of years The Hudson River’s flowed Today I see A pleasure boat stowed September day With net-like, wet-washed gray I think of her A thousand miles away
Read More