A Visit to Qiantang Lake in Spring Bai Juyi

Gushan temple north Jiating west Water surface first flat cloud base low Several places early orioles fight warm tree Every house new swallows peck spring mud Disordered flowers gradually almost confuse person eye Light grass able hide horse hoof Most love lake east go not enough Green poplar shade in white sand causeway

Gushan Temple is to the north, Jiating pavilion west, The water's surface now is calm, the bottom of the clouds low. In several places, the first orioles are fighting in warm trees, By every house new swallows peck at spring mud. Disordered flowers have grown almost enough to confuse the eye, Bright grass is able now to hide the hooves of horses. I most love the east of the lake, I cannot come often enough Within the shade of green poplars on White Sand Embankment.

Feelings on Watching the Moon Bai Juyi

Time hard year famine life land empty Brothers live abroad each east west Fields gardens few fall shield spear after Bone flesh flow apart road road on Hang shadow separate like 10,000 li goose Leave root apart rise 9 autumn dishevelled Together look bright moon should fall tear One night home heart 5 place alike

The times are hard: a year of famine has emptied the fields, My brothers live abroad- scattered west and east. Now fields and gardens are scarcely seen after the fighting, Family members wander, scattered on the road. Attached to shadows, like geese ten thousand li apart, Or roots uplifted into September's autumn air. We look together at the bright moon, and then the tears should fall, This night, our wish for home can make five places one.

Grass Bai Juyi

Part part plain on grass One year one wither flourish Prairie fire burn not destroy Spring wind blow again life Distant fragrance invade old path

The grass is spreading out across the plain, Each year, it dies, then flourishes again. It's burnt but not destroyed by prairie fires, When spring winds blow they bring it back to life. Afar, its scent invades the ancient road,

Clear emerald meet ruined town Its emerald green overruns the ruined town. Again see off noble friend go Again I see my noble friend depart, Crowded full parting feeling I find I'm crowded full of parting's feeling

An Invitation to Mr Liu Bai Juyi

Green ant new unstrained beer Red clay small fire stove Evening come sky almost snow Can drink one cup not?

Green lees of beer that's newly brewed, A little stove of red clay burns. As evening comes, the sky's about to snow, Can you drink one cup with me?

Night Snow Bai Juyi

Already surprised quilt pillow cold Again see window bright Night deep know snow heavy Occasionally hear snap bamboo sound

I was surprised my quilt and pillow were cold, I see that now the window's bright again. Deep in the night, I know the snow is thick, I sometimes hear the sound as bamboo snaps.

Peach Blossom at Dalin Temple Bai Juyi

Person between fourth month fragrant fragrant end Mountain temple peach blossom begin bloom out Great regret spring go not find trace Not know change over this here come

Across the world this June, the petals all have fallen, But the mountain temple's peach blossom has just begun to bloom. I regretted so much that spring had gone without a trace, I didn't know that it had only moved up here.

Reading Laozi Bai Juyi

Speak person not know know person silent This saying I hear from old gentleman If Way old gentleman be know person Reason what confident five thousand

Those who speak do not know, those who know are silent, I heard this saying from the old gentleman. If the old gentleman was one who knew the way,

characters

Why did he feel able to write five thousand words?

Regret for Peony Flowers Bai Juyi

Melancholy steps before red peonies Evening come only be two branches remain Bright morning wind start cope blow exhaust Night regret decline red hold fire look

I'm saddened by the peonies before the steps, so red, As evening came I found that only two remained. Once morning's winds have blown, they surely won't survive, At night I gaze by lamplight, to cherish the fading red.

Remembering South of the River Bai Juyi

South river good Landscape old once know well Sunrise river flower red bear fire Spring come river water green like lily Can not remember river south

South of the river is good, Long ago, I knew the landscape well. At sunrise, the river's flowers are red like fire, In spring, the river's water's green as lilies. How could I not remember south of the river?

Returning Late on the Road from Pingquan on a Winter's Day Bai Juyi

Mountain road hard travel sun become slant Mist village frost tree about to perch crow Night return not arrive should be unimportant Warm drink three cups reach be come

The mountain road is hard to travel, the sun now slanting down, In a misty village, a crow lands on a frosted tree. I'll not arrive before night falls, but that should not concern me, Once I've drunk three warm cups, I'll feel as if at home.

Sleeping on a Night of Autumn Rain Bai Juyi

Cold cold 3rd autumn night Peaceful leisure one old man Lie late lamp go out after Sleep beautiful rain sound in Ash long warm bottle fire Fragrance increase warm quilt cover Sawn clear cold not rise Frost leaf full level red

It's cold this night in autumn's third month, Peacefully within, a lone old man. He lies down late, the lamp already gone out, And beautifully sleeps amid the sound of rain. The ash inside the vessel still warm from the fire, Its fragrance increases the warmth of quilt and covers. When dawn comes, clear and cold, he does not rise, The red frosted leaves cover the steps.

Song of Sunset on the River Bai Juyi

A length setting sun spread water in A strip of water's spread in the setting sun, Half river emerald half river red Half the river's emerald, half is red.

Love ninth month first three night Dew like pearl moon like bow

I love the third night of the ninth month, The dew is like pearl; the moon like a bow.

Song of the Palace Bai Juyi

Tears utmost gauze cloth dream not succeed Night deep before palace press song sound Red cheek not old favour first cut Slant lean on smoke cover sit arrive brightness

Her handkerchief all soaked in tears, she cannot dream, In deepest night before the palace voices sing. Her rosy cheeks aren't old, but first love has been cut, Leaning, wreathed in smoke, she sits until the dawn.

Spring Sleep Bai Juyi

On the Lake (1) Bai Juyi

Mountain monks facing chess sit Board on bamboo dark quiet Shine bamboo no person see Sometimes hear down chess piece sound

Two monks sit facing, playing chess on the mountain, The bamboo shadow on the board is dark and clear. Not a person sees the bamboo's shadow, One sometimes hears the pieces being moved.

On the Lake (2) Bai Juyi

Little child paddle small boat Drift pick white lotus back Not know hide trace Duckweed one path open

A little child paddles a little boat, Drifting about, and picking white lotuses. He does not know how to hide his tracks, And duckweed's opened up along his path.

The Bloom is not a Bloom Bai Juyi

Bloom not bloom mist not mist Night half come heaven bright go Come like spring dream how long time? Go like morning cloud not find place Autumn Meditations (1) Du Fu () qi xng b shu (y)

The bloom is not a bloom, the mist not mist, At midnight she comes, and goes again at dawn. She comes like a spring dream- how long will she stay? She goes like morning cloud, without a trace.

y l dio shng fng sh ln w shn w xi q xio sn jing jin b lng jin tin yng si shng fng yn ji d yn cng j ling ki t r li g zhu y x g yun xn hn y ch ch cu do ch bi d chng go j m zhn Jade dew wither wound maple forest Wu mountain wu gorge air desolate and dreary River on wave meet sky surge Pass on wind cloud join earth dark Shrub chrysanthemum two open it day tear

Single boat one link hometown heart Cold clothes place place urge knife measure Baidicheng high urgent evening flat stone Jade dew withers and wounds the groves of maple trees, On Wu mountain, in Wu gorge, the air is dull and drear. On the river surging waves rise to meet the sky, Above the pass wind and cloud join the earth with darkness. Chrysanthemum bushes open twice, weeping for their days, A lonely boat, a single line, my heart is full of home. Winter clothes everywhere are urgently cut and measured, Baidicheng above, the evening's driven by beating on stones. Autumn Meditations (2) Du Fu () qi xng b shu (r) ku f g chng lu r xi mi y nn du wng jng hu tng yun sh xi sn shng li fng sh x su b yu ch hu shng xing l wi f zhn shn lu fn di yn bi ji qng kn sh shng tng lu yu y yng zhu qin l d hu Kui prefecture lonely wall set sun slant Every rely Southern Dipper gaze capital city Hear ape real fall three sound tear Sent on mission vain follow eight month raft Picture ministry incense stove apart hidden pillow Mountain tower white battlements hide sad reed whistle Ask look stone on creeper moon Already reflect islet before rushes reeds flowers Over Kuizhou's lonely wall, the setting sun slants, Every day I follow the Plough to look to the capital city. I hear an ape; the third call really makes tears fall, Undertaking a mission, in vain I follow the eighth month raft.

The muralled ministry's incense stove is far from my hidden pillow, The mountain tower's white battlements hide the sad reed flutes. Just look at the moonlight on the creepers that cover the stones, Already in front of the islet, the rushes and reed flowers shine! Autumn Meditations (3) Du Fu () qi xng b shu (sn) qin ji shn gu jng cho hu y r jing lu zu cu wi xn s y rn hi fn fn qng qi yn z g fi fi kung hng kng sh gng mng bo li xing chun jng xn sh wi tng xu sho nin du b jin w lng y m z qng fi 1000 home mountain suburb quiet morning light One day river tower sit green hill Two nights fishermen still float float Clear autumn swallow old fly fly Kuang Heng submit memorial achieve rank little Liu Xiang transmit classic heart affair apart Schoolmates early years many not poor 5 tombs furs horse self light fat A mountain suburb of a thousand homes in the quiet morning light, All day I sit by the river in my tower on the green hill. For two nights the fishermen have stayed there floating, floating, In the clear autumn still the swallows fly and fly. Kuang Heng submitted memorials; I've won little praise, Liu Xiang passed on the classics; my wishes are not realised. The schoolmates of my early years mostly are not poor, In the five tomb towns their furs and horses light and fat. Autumn Meditations (4) Du Fu

 () qi xng b shu (s) wn do chng n s y q bi nin sh sh b shng bi wng hu d zhi ji xn zh wn w y gun y x sh zh bi gun shn jn g zhn zhng x ch m y sh ch y lng j m qi jing lng g gu png j yu su s Hear say Chang'an resemble Chinese chess Hundred years world affairs not bear sorrow Nobility degree dwelling all new master Civil military clothes cap different former time Straight north pass mountain gold drum arouse Invade west cart horse feather document hurry Fish dragon still silent autumn river cold Motherland peace live have thing think I've heard them say that Chang'an seems like in a game of chess, A hundred years of world events have caused unbearable pain. The palaces of the noblemen all have their new masters, Civil and military dress and caps are not like those before. Straight north over mountain passes, gongs and drums ring out, Conquering the west, carts and horses, feather-hurried dispatches. The fish and dragons are still and silent, the autumn river cold, A peaceful life in my homeland always in my thoughts. Autumn Meditations (5) Du Fu ()

 qi xng b shu (w) png li gng qu du nn shn chng l jn jng xio hn jin x wng yo ch jing wng m dng li z q mn hn gun yn y zh wi ki gng shn r ro lng ln sh shng yn y w cng jing jng su wn j hu qng su zho cho bn Peng lai palace imperial palace face south hill Receive dew gold stem sky amid West gaze jade pond descend Queen Mother of the West East come purple vapour fill Han pass Cloud shift pheasant tail open palace door Sun surround dragon scales recognise holy face One lie cold river startle year late Number times blue chain shine morning group Penglai imperial palace faces the southern hill, A golden stem to catch the dew is high up in the sky. Gazing west, the Queen Mother descends at the Jade Lake, From the east, Han pass is filled with purple vapour. Like shifting cloud, the pheasant tail screens of the palace open, Bathed in sun of dragon scales, I know the holy face. Now I lie by this cold river, amazed the year's so late, How many times by the blue chains was I there in the morning court Autumn Meditations (6) Du Fu () qi xng b shu (li) Q tng xi ku q jing tu wn l fng yn ji s qi hu ji chng tng y q

f rng xio yun r bin chu zh lin xi zh wi hung h jn ln y qing q bi u hu shu k lng g w d qn zhng z g d wng zhu Qutang gorge mouth bend river bank 10,000 li wind mist join pale autumn Calyx secret wall through imperial energy Lotus little park enter border sorrow Pearl curtain embroider pillar surround yellow crane Brocade hawser ivory mast rise white gull Turn head can regret sing dance place Qin middle from old emperor place The mouth of the Qutang Gorge, the bank of the Bending River, Ten thousand miles of wind and mist join them in pale autumn. Through Calyx Hall's hidden passage the imperial aura passed, Now the little Lotus Park is filled with border sorrows. Pearls on curtains, embroidery on pillars, around the yellow cranes, From brocade hawsers and ivory masts rise the white gulls. I turn my head, sad now for the place of song and dance, Qin has been since olden days the land of emperors. Autumn Meditations (7) Du Fu () qi xng b shu (q) kn mng ch shu hn sh gng w d jng q zi yn zhng zh n j s x yu y sh jng ln ji dng qi fng b pio g m chn yn hi l lng lin fng zhu fn hng gun si j tin wi nio do jing h mn d y y wng Kunming lake water Han time achievement Martial emperor banners flags at eye in

Weaver girl loom thread empty moon night Stone whale scale armour move autumn wind Wave toss wild rice seed sink cloud black Dew cold lotus pod fall powder red Pass fortified limit sky but bird road River lake fill earth one fisher old man The waters of the Kunming Lake were made in the time of Han, Banners and flags of the martial emperor are still in my mind's eye. The weaver girl's loom and thread are idle beneath the night's moon, The stone whale's scales and armour move in the autumn wind. Waves toss the wild rice seeds, black clouds sink, Dew chills the lotus pod, red powder falls. Between the passes at the end of the sky only birds can travel, Rivers and lakes fill this land; there's one old fisherman. Autumn Meditations (8) Du Fu () qi xng b shu ( b) kn w y s z wi y z g fng yn r mi p xing do zhu y yng w l b w q lo fng hung zh ji rn sh cu chn xing wn xin l tng zhu wn gng y ci b x yu gn q xing bi tu yn wng k d chu g Kunwu Yusu come winding Purple pavilion peak dark enter Meipi Fragrant rice peck surplus parrot grain Emerald wutong perch old male phoenix female phoenix branch Beautiful woman gather green spring mutual ask Transcendent companion same boat evening more move Colour brush before travel invade air image White head recite gaze bitter low hang

From Kunwu, Yusu river winds round and round, Purple Tower mountain's shadow enters Meipi lake. Fragrant rice; pecking; leaving surplus; parrots; grains; Emerald wutong; perching; growing old; phoenixes; branches. Beautiful women gather green feathers, talk to each other in spring, Immortal companions share a boat, move on in the evening. My coloured brush in olden days captured the image of life, My white head drones and gazes, bitterly hanging low. Ballad of the Ancient Cypress Du Fu g b xng kng mng mio qin yu lo b k r qng tng gn r sh shung p li y s sh wi di s cn tin r qin ch jn chn y y sh j hu

sh m yu wi rn i x yn li q ji w xi chng yu ch hn tng xu shn bi y zu l ro jn tng dng xin zh w hu tng b gng cu wi zh gn jio yun g yo tio dn qng h yu kng lu lu pn j su d d mng mng g go du li fng f ch z sh shn mng l zhng zh yun yn zo hu gng d sh r qng yo ling dng wn ni hu shu qi shn zhng b l wn zhng sh y jng wi c jin f shu nng sng k xn q min rng lu y xing y zhng jng s lun fng zh sh yu rn m yun ji g li ci d nn wi yng Kong ming temple before be old cypress Branch like green bronze root like stone Frost bark slippery rain 40 spans Black colour meet sky 2000 feet Emperor and minister already with time end meet Tree tree still be man devotion Cloud come air meet Wu gorge long Moon out cold with snow mountain white Remember old road wind brocade pavilion east Former master war lord together hidden temple Towering branch trunk open country ancient Secluded red black door window empty Spread wide coil entrenched although get earth Dark far lofty many violent wind Give support naturally divine strength Upright reason creator skill Big hall if upset want rafter beam 10,000 oxen turn head mountain weight Not reveal hidden meaning world already amazed Without evade cut down who can send Bitter heart how avoid contain mole crickets ants Fragrant leaves all through reside phoenix

Aim scholar secluded person not resent sigh Always timber big hard to use Before Kongming's shrine stands an ancient cypress, Its branches are like green bronze, its roots just like stone. The frosted bark, slippery with rain, is forty spans around, Its blackness blends into the sky two thousand feet above. Master and servant have each already reached their time's end, The tree, however, still remains, receiving men's devotion. Clouds come and bring the air of Wuxia gorge's vastness, The moon comes out, along with the cold of snowy mountain whiteness. I think back to the winding road, east of Brocade Pavilion, Where the military master and his lord of old share a hidden temple. Towering that trunk, those branches, on the ancient plain, Hidden paintings, red and black, doors and windows empty. Spreading wide, coiling down, though it holds the earth, In the dim and distant heights are many violent winds. That which gives it its support must be heaven's strength, The reason for its uprightness, the creator's skill. If a great hall should teeter, wanting rafters and beams, Ten thousand oxen would turn their heads towards its mountain's weight. Its potential unrevealed, the world's already amazed, Nothing would stop it being felled, but what man could handle it? Its bitter heart cannot avoid the entry of the ants, Its fragrant leaves have always given shelter to the phoenix. Ambitious scholars, reclusive hermits- neither needs to sigh; Always it's the greatest timber that's hardest to put to use. Clearing Rain Du Fu y qngy zu qi j tin shu qi yn bo cng x wn l fng jn zho ho qng jng

ji y b fng nng si li hng sh cu shn l ji xio hng h ji lu shng f y yn r go kng Heaven water autumn cloud thin From west 10,000 li wind This morning good fine landscape Long rain not harm farming Full willow row little green Hill pear flower little red Bold eggplant upstairs fruit One goose into high sky The sky's water has fallen, and autumn clouds are thin, The western wind has blown ten thousand li. This morning's scene is good and fine, Long rain has not harmed the land. The row of willows begins to show green, The pear tree on the hill has little red flowers. The eggplant boldly fruits upstairs, One goose flies high into the sky. Climbing High Du Fu dng go fng j tin go yun xio i zh qng sh bi nio fi hu w bin lu m xio xio xi b jn chng jing gn gn li wn l bi qi chng zu k bi nin du bng d dng ti jin nn k hn fn shung bn lio do xn tng zhu ji bi Wind swift heaven high ape cry grief Islet clear sand white bird fly circle

No edge fall tree rustle rustle down No end great river surge surge arrive 10,000 li sorrow autumn always be a guest 100 years many sickness alone climb platform Difficult suffering regret numerous white temples Frustrated now stop turbid drink cup Swift wind, heaven high, an ape's cry of grief, At the islet of clear white sand, birds circle round. Endlessly, trees shed leaves, rustling, rustling down, Without cease, the great river surges, surges on. Ten thousand miles in sorrowful autumn, always someone's guest, A hundred years full of sickness, I climb the terrace alone. Suffering troubles, I bitterly regret my whitening temples, Frustratingly I've had to abandon my cup of cloudy wine. Facing Snow Du Fu du xu zhn k du xn gu chu yn d lo wng lun yn d b m j xu w hu fng pio q zn w l l cn hu s hng sh zhu xio x dun chu zu zhng sh kng Battle cry many new ghosts Worry and grieve alone old man Disorder cloud low dusk Rapid snow dance return wind Gourd ladle discard cup without green Stove remain fire like red Many place news broken Worry sit straight book empty

After the battle, many new ghosts cry, The solitary old man worries and grieves. Ragged clouds are low amid the dusk, Snow dances quickly in the whirling wind. The ladle's cast aside, the cup not green, The stove still looks as if a fiery red. To many places, communications are broken, I sit, but cannot read my books for grief. For Hua Qing Du Fu z q g c r p d r jn chng s gun r fn fn bn r jing fng bn r yn c q zh yng tin shng q rn jin nng d j hu wn Jincheng silk flute day mixed Half enter river wind half enter cloud This tune only should heaven on go Human world able get how many times hear In Jincheng, music of silk and flutes mixes together all day, Half goes to the river breeze, half goes to the clouds. Music such as this should only go to heaven above, In this human world, how many times can it be heard? Four Rhymes to See Off Duke Yan Again at Fengji Station Du Fu fng j y chng sng yn gng s yn

yun sng cng c bi qng shn kng f qng j sh bi chng b zu y yu tng xng li jn u g x sn cho ch r rng jing cn d gu ch j m yng cn shng Far escort from now on part Green mountains in vain repeat feeling When cup again grasp? Last night moon together walk Each prefecture eulogise cherish Three reigns out enter honour River village alone return place Lonely recuperate remaining years After long escort, from now on we part, In vain green mountains reflect my emotion. What day will we grasp the cup again? Last night we travelled together under the moon. In each region, you are eulogised and cherished, In three reigns old and new you have been honoured. I return alone to my riverside village, To live the last of life in solitude. Four Rhymes to See Off Duke Yan Again at Fengji Station Du Fu fng j y chng sng yn gng s yn yun sng cng c bi qng shn kng f qng j sh bi chng b zu y yu tng xng li jn u g x sn cho ch r rng

jing cn d gu ch j m yng cn shng Far escort from now on part Green mountains in vain repeat feeling When cup again grasp? Last night moon together walk Each prefecture eulogise cherish Three reigns out enter honour River village alone return place Lonely recuperate remaining years After long escort, from now on we part, In vain green mountains reflect my emotion. What day will we grasp the cup again? Last night we travelled together under the moon. In each region, you are eulogised and cherished, In three reigns old and new you have been honoured. I return alone to my riverside village, To live the last of life in solitude. In Abbot Zan's Room at Dayun Temple: Four Poems (2) Du Fu () d yn s zn gng fng s shu (r) x run qng s l gung mng bi di jn shn cng gng lo s q yng j w shn z g zhun w q jio qng h shng xn do ln ci b sh hu yun d gu rn y xi m yn zh fng chu qng jng qn

tin yn du t hu zu ju rn lng ln Thin soft green silk shoe Shine bright white cotton scarf Deep store for old elder Fetch use for my body Self look change without interest Friendship how still new Daolin talent not age Huiyuan virtue surpass man Rain pour dusk eaves bamboo Wind blow green well celery Heaven dark face picture Most feel moist dragon scale Fine green silk shoes, Bright white cotton scarves, Deep in storage for the elders, Fetched to wear upon my body. I see myself as old and dull, How can our friendship stay so fresh? Daolin's talents exceed the age, Huiyuan's virtue's superhuman. Rain-drenched bamboo by the eaves at dusk; Wind in green celery at the well; The sky dark, I face a mural, Most feeling the damp of the dragon's scales. In Abbot Zan's Room at Dayun Temple: Four Poems (3) Du Fu () d yn s zn gng fng s shu (sn) dng yng zho w shu

xn qng wn mio xing y shn din t w fng dng jn lng dng tin hi b chn yun d qng q n fng y shng hu dun ju ti fng sn o xing fn fng sh ch s zhng cn rng yn chung mng zho zi w y k jin chn sh hung Lamplight shine without sleep Heart clear smell wonderful incense Night deep hall sudden lofty Wind move gold clank clank Sky black obstruct spring court Earth clear dwell secret fragrance Jade rope revolve cut sever Iron phoenix dark soar Sanskrit release sometimes out temple Bell remnant remain thunder bed Tomorrow at fertile field Bitter see dirt sand yellow The lamplight shines on my sleeplessness, My mind clear, I smell the splendid incense. Deep in the night, the hall rears up high, The wind stirs, and gold is heard to clank. The black sky masks the springtime court, To the pure earth clings a hidden fragrance. The Jade Rope wheels round and is cut, The iron phoenix seems about to soar. Sanskrit sometimes flows out from the temple, The lingering bells still echo round my bed. Tomorrow morning in the fertile field, I'll bitterly behold the yellow dirt. Jueju (Enjoying Flowers Walking Alone on a Riverbank, No. 5 of 7) Du Fu

jing pn d b xn hu hung sh t qin jing shu dng chn gung ln kn y wi fng to hu y c ki w zh k i shn hng i qin hng Huangshi pagoda before river water east Spring bright lazy sleepy rely on light wind Peach blossom one clump open without owner Lovely deep red love light red Before Huangshi pagoda the river flows east, In spring's brightness I'm tired and need the breeze. An ownerless clump of peach blossom's opened, Is dark or light red more to be loved? Jueju (Enjoying Flowers Walking Alone on a Riverbank, No. 6 of 7) Du Fu jing pn d b xn hu hung s ning ji hu mn x qin du wn du y zh d li lin x di sh sh w z zi jio yng qi qi t Huangsi girl house flowers fill path Thousand blossom ten thousand blossom press branch low Reluctant to leave play butterfly constantly dance Free and unrestrained lovely oriole cry At Huang Si's house, flowers fill the path, Myriad blossoms press the branches low. Constantly dancing butterflies stay to play, Unrestrained, the lovely orioles cry. www.chinese-poems.com