Wang Wei Archives - Frank Watson Poet

Miscellaneous Verse

You who’ve come and seen my hometown hueWould know the news from there, I must presume:That day you left, outside the window view,Had winter’s plums begun to wear their bloom? Chinese Pronunciation 雜詩 Zá Shī 君自故鄉來， Jūn zì gù xiāng lái， …

Yearning

Away in southern lands the red beans layAs spring returns to send its blooms above;Desiring you I pluck a big bouquet,To hold a thing that marks our tender love. Chinese 相思紅豆生南國，春來發幾枝。願君多采擷，此物最相思。 Pronunciation Xiāng Sī Hóng dòu shēng nán guó，Chūn lái fā jī zhī。Yuàn jūn duō cǎi xié，Cǐ wù zuì xiāng …

Farewell to a Dear Friend

Within the mountain midst, a farewell scene:I shut my door, the sun begins to set.In spring next year the grass will turn to green,But if you’ll come back here, I know not yet. Chinese 送別山中相送罷，日暮掩柴扉。春草明年綠，王孫歸不歸。 Pronunciation Sòng Bié Shān zhōng xiāng sòng bà，Rì mù yǎn chái fēi。Chūn cǎo nián nián …

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 …

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 …

Wang Wei’s “Zhongnan Mountain Retreat” (300 Tang Poems #123)

Translation Wang Wei (701-761) 王維 Zhongnan Mountain Retreat 終南別業 In the middle of my life I was fond of the Buddhist Way; 中歲頗好道 now my life is late and I’m at home, along the Southern Mountain. 晚家南山陲 Desiring this lovely, solitary life, 興來 …

Wang Wei’s “Han River, Gazing from Afar” (300 Tang Poems #122)

Translation Wang Wei (701-761) 王維 Han River, Gazing from Afar 漢江臨眺 The ancient Kingdom of Chu — it’s border—three rivers converge; 楚塞三湘接 By Mount Thorn, there are nine tributaries connecting the Yangzi. 荊門九派通 The river flows apart from Heaven and Earth; 江流天地外 …

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