T'ang Poems Translated in a Simplified Classical Form, Part II

CW29:No.37

Yogi C. M. Chen


I HAVE TO SING

by Po Chu-I

After painful practice of non-being,
I stop many habits of bad things!
But the demon of poem still remains,
Whenever I see moon, I have to sing!


PICK THE LOTUS

by Wang Chang-Lin

Picking Lotus all girls are in a boat.
They do not mind, water wets their coats.
When they come, flowers welcome;
When they leave, moon sends them home!


THE FEEBLE LOTUS

by Po Chu-I

White dew cools down lotus which can't be high.
Breeze blows over her leaves and becomes dry!
No one knows how to love the loneliness.
I circle this pool and complete this poetry!


FOUR LINES

by To Fu

Better is to be blown away when I am drunk,
Rather than when awake, how to bear its a-fading!
The nice Chu-Tree against the jetty has blossomed.
Are their new buds with scent forever abiding?!


THE INTEREST OF STREAM

by Hsun-Ho

Rainy mount, and windy stream makes fishing stop,
Under the sailing, I alone with wine cup,
After drunk and sleep, the boat moves to the shoal,
Neither I know, Nor anyone awakes me up!


THE PEONY

by Wei Ying-Viet

Recently I think too much of peony.
At last buy a pot with thousand penny!
This morning I carefully look at it.
No more beauty than flower-sunny!


ON THE PATH

by Liu Chang Chin

On Yu-Nan Path, I alone walk in damp.
I see those destroyed military camp!
The old, large tree becomes more dark and blue.
In the mute town, there're few homes without lamp.


SEND TO AFRIEND IN CHANGAN

by Chen San

Apart myriad miles in Changan is my friend dear.
Why so scarcely write me a few words to hear!
From the Jade-pass I look forward to him with tear,
Much the more, tomorrow will be the eve of this year!


PRAISE TO LEE PO

by Chen-Ku

A star of poem and a star of wine,
Master Lee was sent from the divine!
Great drunk, nice singing in many lines
Which makes friend with bright moon so fine!


ON THE JOURNEY OF DESERT

by Chen San

I ride westward, seem to reach the heaven tip,
See two times full moon, since leave home and work.
Tonight I do not know where I sleep!
On myriad miles beach, there's no cooking smoke!


SPRING SNOW

by Han Yu

There's no flower, though spring is to pass.
In second month there is sprouting grass!
The white snows do hate that spring is too late,
Fly like flowers on the trees crisp and cross!


NIGHT DEPARTURE

by Kar Chik

When the willow catkins flew, I left Long-Yong,
Now I arrive Hunan the plums are in blossom.
Though world-passions have disappeared like the clouds
But the leaving grief is still like river, so long!


ON THE ROCK

by Wong Wei

The plain rock close to the spring is so handsome.
To whip the cup of wine, willow leaves hang down.
If the spring wind does not know all of my heart,
Why sends she the flower just into my bosom?


ON AUTUMN

by Liu Yu-Hsei

"Lonely" is a term for autumn to verify.
But I feel it is better than spring so high.
When one crane flies to sphere and passes all the clouds
She takes our poetic passions up to the blue sky.


TO WASH THE SANDS FOR GOLD

by Liu Yu-Hsei

Sun shines on the beach and land.
Come for gold, many girl-friends.
Beauty's necklace and kings' seals,
All come through waves and sands.


THE SECOND

by Liu Yu-Hsei

Don't care of all the rumor so told,
Or say the dropout official so old!
Though painful is the wash of many times,
Yet puff off all the sands there's the gold!


WATER SCREEN

by Lo Yeh

White Clouds drop down to the grass green.
It hangs as well as water screen.
If we make it as wide nectar,
Better than anything in between.


PLUMS

by Lo Yeh

Each tree of plums does like to have snow cover.
They grow in wildly, natural flavour.
But the marshals do not know how to enjoy.
Neither the spring wind does let them pass the river!


WILLOW

by Lo Yeh

Hides the story, willow, like the fog, so mends,
Half hangs over the sailing, half over land.
Next year there will be more new leaves extend,
The spring wind-disturbance has no end.


LOOK AT NIGHT IN THE CAPITAL

by Lo Yeh

Body was like duckweed, mind, deer
Wandering in the world so cheer.
Past tasks all were like dreams,
They become awake with my beer.


BEES

by Lo Yeh

Either the plain or the mount of many feet,
All the beautiful scenes they do always meet.
After passing flowers, making the honey,
They don't know for whom they prepare the sweet.


RED GIRL

by Lo Chin

Though I like Zen of Buddhism so profound,
Yet I cannot forget red girl's face so round.
There is nothing can compare with her beauty,
Except the newly growing lotus I have found!


AFTER WAR

by Peir Yueh

After ten years of war--a bad habitude,
I came to the temple without prelude,
I do know there are two things never be burnt,
The water of Tung-Ting and the monk's quietude.


THINK OF THE MONK

by Huang Fun-Jan

How pure was the monk worthy of my Lord,
He held his bowl alone to go to the crowd.
Think of Him, look at pine temple so far.
There is only the bell-voice out of the clouds.


THE PASSION OF A VIRGIN

by Lee Tuan

In the dawn, stars become few,
Lamp is on, dream is still due.
Thrown on clothes and looks at gate,
She doubts the magpies' good news!


WRITE IN SADNESS

by Chin Kou

Don't hate the road which is not white.
Sun shines on mount and sky so bright.
Monks are not of nothing at all,
Say to see monk seems to be quiet!


SUFFER FROM HEAT

by Po Chu-I

Men run away from heat, like mad.
Only the zen monk lives inside.
Has the zen monk but heat never had?
When mind quiet the heat not resides.


SWALLOW-STORY

by Po Chu-I

In this spring, someone comes back from Lo Yong.
He had been to the grove of king before long.
He said the trees there grew as large column.
How could these women not to ashes become!


BLAME THE WINE

by Young How

Men have said "Wine can send the sorrow."
I say "After wine, grieves still follow!"
When I awake and see the dying lamp,
Even good things become bad fellow.


ON THE BRIGHT CLOUD

by Ku Kon

To the wild one, fame is not his desire!
Passes his life in mount so admired!
He hates not the lonesome without friend,
Loves the nice clouds as brothers, no tire!


WILLOWS IN FRONT OF PALACE

by Wong Chien

Before willow palace, there appears spring.
It has been surprised by many a being.
Now on the mount Lee, it rains so long,
And washes away all the dust from branches green!


VISIT TO YUEN-CHU CITY

by Wu Yu-Hean

To look capital I come up the story.
Ev'n fly as bird, it takes half year of journey.
All mountains do like me to stay here longer,
For many folds they embrace my little valley.


GLAD TO SEE MY OLD FRIEND

by Yee Chien-Wu

Thirty years ago, when I parted from you,
Your rose face was better than the flower's hue.
Who knows that sun and moon hastened you so fast,
Make you so old and have nothing new!


WRITE ON THE DOOR OF MONK

by Yee Chien-Wu

Pool produces lotus, sand mixes gold.
But monk has only mind to hold.
I want to sleep in his clean temple,
The night sound of ape makes me cold!


SEND THE GOLDEN FISH FREE

by Tou Kung

With money I save you from knife,
I know yourself too love your life!
Please live freely, live in the river,
Don't seek for great sea to arrive!


THE INTEREST OF STORM

by To Sain Ho

Rain and wind make my fishing stop.
I alone drink many a cup.
After sleep none call me awake,
Boat moves away nearby wine shop!


SEND THE APE FREE

by Jei Lou-Shih

To the deep mount I send you back so long.
Take the wild spring and red fruit as your fun.
When you want to bay, don't near by the shore,
Where moon shines on boat, a wanderer alone!


SEND THE JAPANESE MONK BACK

by Wen Chung

Though far away is Tokyo we should not despair,
Even in your temple there is many a stair.
Who will arrive with you at the same time?
A boat of moon-light and a canvas of fresh air!


SEND TO MR. HUN THE SIXTH

by Wong Wei

First meet you as if met you before long,
Your home is Men-Ching which is well known.
I see in your boat, so many persons,
Among them, there might be men of Lo-Young.


ON RED FLOWER

by Yu Ku

I loved flowers but not satisfied at all.
Now I meet a best one in the branch so tall.
When spring wind blows up after the evening,
Who knows, at whose home, under the moon, it falls!


BEHIND THE STREAM

by Young Shih Eo

After rain, fresh grass, and pure sands remain,
Spring covers the green lake and dark lane !
There's only birds love the passenger,
In the deep place of plum, there's no woman!


ON MOON

by Lee Shen-Ying

Passing on water and story, she is so bright.
Hiding in the Wu-Ton and bamboo, she is still right.
While she is little as hook, nothing to be sad.
When she is round as cake, why we need so mad?


SEND MR. LIU BACK

by Lee Shen-Ying

Nice was your place to entertain,
Half was close to lake, half near mountain.
You were very fond of landscape,
After back, could you come again?


ON CICADA

by Liu Shoun

To the tourist seemed sadness is surrounded,
But to the old monk nothing can be found.
I don't know what was the cicada said,
Why from hotel and temple differs its sound?


AFTER DRUNK

by Liu Shoun

With spring grass and autumn wind pass my life in vain,
Even very poor, always drunk, no any new plan.
When I awake, I do like to see the duckweed,
Which are drifting on water controlled by no man!


WANDERER MIND

by Young How

In my native place, I've no property.
But her mountains, I do love her beauty!
Since I'm a pilgrim hardly to return,
My home is hotel or some monastery!


PALACE SONG

by Hun Chen-Shei

The singer in golden age has good fame,
How lucky is she, when palace has her name!
Who knows that the queen is so envious;
To sing before king, gets no permit, but blame.


SEEK FOR FAIRY

by Lo Yeh

Spend much money to seek the fairy old,
There's no such trace of cloudy scene be told.
If fairy may be pursued by man,
Why is the king's grove still in the world?


WALK ON THE SHORE

by Chain Chi

Pine trees made shadow as wide as they could,
I moored my boat and collected some cooking wood!
I listened to those old fishmen's sayings,
They all hated the war in a weary mood!


LOOK AT BLOSSOM

by Lo Yeh

Before blossom, I fear I would be too late.
When blossom, lament is still like that time I wait.
My home is Hunan but body in Shih Gren.
Spring passes again in vain, no return date!


ENJOY THE SPRING

by Lo Yeh

The sweet grass with fog is green and warm,
It grows on rich land and in poor home.
Each year I examine the worldly facts;
It is only the spring wind does no harm!


SONG OF PAN RIVER

by Lee Yee

Pan River flew away through many springs,
Shu Dynasty palace remained nothing!
Tourist should not watch the old and long bank
Where wind puffs up the grief of catkin.


ON WAR

by Chian Chi

About the great war, people are still weary.
Poor village remains few family.
No man struggles for evening ferry,
The waning moon shines on beach slightly!


LOVE THE FLOWERS

by Nan Yun

Where does the spring-light return and remain?
Before flowers I drink a cup again!
Flowers do not speak so far I have asked,
For whom you fade, for whom you maintain?!


ON DRUNK

by Tou Tao-Yun

Many lines of Tou's poems talk about the wine,
My poems too do like to praise it in each line.
After drunk my body and mind both decide,
"Let them become good poets, I keep my divine!"


ON WILLOW

by Tou Tao-Yun

Leaves massaged by air and fogs without rest,
They seemed dyed newly in a hue of best.
They should be named the thread of attraction,
Their chain did bind both the East and the West!


LIVE BESIDE THE STREAM

by Tou Tao-Yun

Whose boat has been forgot to moor?
Spring wind blows it through some store.
My boy mistook, some guest might come,
Aft' he saw it, he shut the door!


ON MOSS

by Chain Chi

It's purity is like stream from a clean place,
Only the rain drops of pine can touch its face.
Who knows that on the old stone of thousand years,
There's the one without defilement of man's trace!


ON PALACE

by Yu Tien

How lonesome is the old palace,
Flower is red but in silence.
The old waiting maid with white hair,
Still talks about king's allowance!


ON COCK

by Tou Tao-Yun

Buy a cock, I want it to know;
Common noise I do not allow.
When dark night is hard away drawn,
Then, only then, I need you crow!


ON DRUNK

by Han Yu

Those who are very busy for their fame,
Have no time to rest nor just play a game!
I came here alone without company,
Drink before mountain as my friend the same.


ON SWEET PEAR HOUSE

by Liu Yu-Hseu

Out the door, to Long-Young, there's a way!
Indoor a hermitage he does stay!
The earthly dusts and heavenly clouds,
Though different, yet few steps away.


DRINK BEFORE FLOWERS

by Liu Yu-Hseu

We drink before flowers as close to woman.
After drunk we still add as much as we can.
I am afraid of that if flower would say:
"I do not blossom for you--the old man."


POOL AND WINDOW

by Po Chu-I

In the evening pool-lotus fade,
Through window autumn-bamboo seem sad.
There's no company talking with me,
Only a lute laying on my bed!


ON THE POOL

by Po Chu-I

Rowing a boat, the girl is so nice indeed.
She steals a white lotus and returns in speed!
She does not know how to hide her lovely trace,
Newly opened path among the duckweed!


IN THE GARDEN

by Wang Wei

In the garden, I sit alone and drink tea.
Either play lute or snore whatever may be.
Many bamboos encircle, no one comes to see;
It is only moonlight shines upon me!


RETURN

by Chou Ku

Children asked badly "Are you right?
Why did you come back so late at night?
With whom have you had the time to race?
And have gained so many hairs white?"


WRITE ON THE WALL OF BAR

by Wang Jee

Today I drink a whole day long,
Neither for pleasure nor for fun!
I do know all people are like drunk;
How could I be awake alone!


WRITE ON THE TREE OF FLOWERS

by Young Hen

To enjoy flower, I have no such mind.
But accidentally I meet such a kind.
After I see all their pretty colours,
Their blossoms add to my lament, I find!


SLEEP ON THE RIVER NAMED CHIEN-TEH-MEN

by Hou-Yun

I move the boat slowly till the beach obtain,
When evening comes new lament of tourist returns.
In the far wild, the sky seems to be lower than tree;
The clean and clear river makes the moon seem close to man.


PLUM AND STREAM

by Chang Cho

I love the Plum flower more than my lady,
Walk along the path, and find them so pretty.
Forbid my maid to sweep the ground under them,
I fear that I may harm their falling beauty.


SEND THE LOTUS SEED

by Lee Yuen Yu

To you a lotus seed I import.
It's like my mind as its counterpart.
Please do not for the little bitter taste,
Then, you throw away the lotus heart!


MOURN FOR THE LITTLE GIRL

by Lee Yuen Yu

I weep for your spring date so short,
I make a long sigh from my deep heart.
You are not like the half dying old tree,
Still has a little blossom I'm so smart!


SEND TO MR. CHOU

by Wang Po Yuen

With you I cannot go ahead.
For the time being I leave your tread.
I know you have parted so far,
On my way back, still turn my head!


A SONG

by Liu Tsai-Chun

Yesterday was better than today even so near,
This year I become older than the last year.
The yellow river may turn white and clear,
How could all my white hair turn over back so dear.


ON THE TOMB

by Tze Nan

Old tombs are more than grass,
New graves are close to the path.
Out the town no more bar space,
Pass the city old men across.


ON CLAY COIN BANK (OR BAMBOO MADE)

by Ku Kon

Only makes me so full,
But not care of me fall.
When myself is broken,
No coin for me at all!


RETURN TO THE MOUNTAIN

by Ku Kon

Mental affair is the white hair concern,
My livelihood is mountain, nothing to learn.
In the void forest only snow waits me,
On the old path: No one but I return!


WALK IN EAST WITH KOR DOU

by Chang Cho

North water, south land with grass new.
Snow dissolved, breeze warm, no more dew.
In the city full of horses and carts,
Those who know walking in zen so few!


MEET MY COUNTRYMAN

by Chen San

To the east, look my home is far way.
My tears on the sleeves never dry away.
On the ride no paper and pen to write,
I trust you to send my message to-day!


AFTER TRANSLATION

by C. M. Chen

All are common senses, vulgar emotions;
Sadness of battles and palace often's mentioned:
If T'ang poems were selected by me,
They might be Sea birds and bamboo horses, all natural things.


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