Before the Duke of Zhou Yu Xin (513-581) One dawn I had a home; today it’s gone,An orchid rooted out and set to burn.As one would tell a tale of long lost friendsI live my life to watch the world turn. Chinese 集周公處連句詩庾信 市朝一朝變蘭艾本同焚故人相借問平生如所聞 Pronunciation Jí Zhōu Gōng Chǔ …
Read MoreSpreading Their Wings
Look at the bird, he spreads his wings,The image stays like a song I sing.He flies in a tune above, below,So rich and free from the toil I know. For ages I gaze at the sun and moon,The distant clouds, whose path still looms.For hundreds of …
Read MoreCutting Wood
How to cut wood? It’s hard without an axe. How to find a wife? It’s hard without a go-between. Cutting wood… cutting wood… The rule’s pretty clear: To find a girl You need a lot of gifts. Original Chinese Traditional Simplified Pronunciation 伐柯 伐柯 fá …
Read MoreForever Flawless Jade
Two children in a boat, Drifting with the scenery. How I wish to speak to them, The dear ones I reared. Two children in a boat, Drifting, they’ve passed away. How I wish to speak to them, Forever flawless jade. Translated from the Chinese of …
Read MoreListening to the Leader
He stands and speaks, that regal man In a fine suit and youthful face, Though well into his middle age. We listen Around in a circle, thousands of us In the capital, where he speaks With his wife by his side, wearing silk. I cannot …
Read MoreCutting Wood
How to cut wood? It’s hard without an axe. How to find a wife? It’s hard without a go-between. Cutting wood… cutting wood… The rule’s pretty clear: To find a girl You need a lot of gifts. Translated from an anonymous poem …
Read MoreEastern Sun
Anonymous Ah, the beautiful girl In the eastern sun— She’s in my room, She’s in my room, Her feet will follow mine. Ah, the beautiful girl In the eastern moon— She’s in my door, She’s in my door, Her feet now follow mine. Original Chinese …
Read MoreRainbow, Rainbow
It is dusk. A rainbow rises To the east, but do not look: She travels far From her family. A rainbow rises to the west, To honor the morning with rain: She travels far From her family. That woman has a heart That longs for …
Read MoreAbandoned Birchleaf
The birchleaf stands alone, Now ripe with fruit full grown. The king’s work must be done, On every day, in every sun. So many suns and moons, My heartfelt female wounds: But can he come back soon? The birchleaf stands alone With leaves now plush …
Read MoreA Birchleaf Pear, Alone
There is a birchleaf pear with flourishing leaves. It is alone. Abandoned, I walk forlorn, Left to wonder why there is no one else. My father is not my father. Alas! I walk apart— But why am I not his equal? My brothers are not …
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