Out For Battle

Out For Battle
By Du Fu of Tang Dynasty
Translated by Laijon Liu 20081229

To wax a bow; one must wax a strong bow;
To pick an arrow, one must pick a long arrow.
To bring down a knight, one must shoot the horse.
To capture his enemy, one must capture the king.
There should be a limit for every slaughtering,
As all the nations patrolling their own borders.
And such method is to fend off an invasion,
Or for the purpose to slay more and more?

Note:
This poem shows the great learning of poet Du Fu’s view about war.
He wrote this poem to tell his people and colleagues (most officials),
That war was not for killing, but only a nation to defend an invasion.
But our TV news often reminds that we are not civilization yet, and
People never get tired fighting, killing, whatever any reason we use,
or religion, or land property, or security, or even for peace: Shalom,
or Liberty, Freedom, Human Rights, or Helen… it seems we human
can only solve all and every problem by using method of killing.
As the great poet argued with his last two verses by a question form,
All wisdom of war is for defending or slaughtering more and more?

That’s why I try to live a new way,
ain’t gonna be a nationalist, common man must pay tax to any government,
ain’t gonna fight for land, Jesus said what was good to lose life for world?
Ain’t gonna fight for a woman, she has all her God given rights to pick.
The best way to get out conflict, Run Forest! Run! Coz hell is on fire and
Satan loves toasting, and never get tired.

Walk In Dew

Walk In Dew
Book of Ode (Compiled by Confucius)
Translated by Laijon Liu

Wet dew on the morning road.
Who doesn't want to sneak out by night?
But I’m afraid of the dewy road.

Who says sparrow doesn’t have beak?
Then how he pecked thru my room?
Who says you don’t have a wife?
And why you sue me and put me in jail?
Even though you put me in jail,
But don’t you think I’ll marry you!

Who says rat doesn’t have teeth?
Then how he drilled thru my wall?
Who says you don’t have a wife?
And why you sue me and persecute me?
Even though you persecute me,
Still, I will never marry you!

Note:
This is like tv drama, that a young girl refused to marry some filthy rich man who had connection in the court yard, and she was put into jail in a force of marriage. But she decided even she sat in jail still wouldn’t change her mind. Jeez, that man must be so ugly. And it seems the poor girl was fighting for her human right and marriage right, freedom of spouse selection at same time. I praise her strength. Nowadays, many people in the world should learn from her, especially those who live in Asia. And it seems Confucius selected this poem to talk about human rights and freedom marriage. Usually in every ancient Chinese literature that marriage is symbol of political pursuit or officials and authority. But this ode is great that Confucius put topics of politics, individual rights, and marriage into one body. Freedom of choice is individual thing, it's like marriage.

Chinese:
行露

厌浥行露，
岂不夙夜？
谓行多露。

谁谓雀无角？
何以穿我屋？
谁谓女无家？
何以速我狱？
虽速我狱，
室家不足！

谁谓鼠无牙？
何以穿我墉？
谁谓女无家？
何以速我讼？
虽速我讼，
亦不女从！

The Plums Are Falling

The Plums Are Falling
From Book of Ode (Compiled by Confucius)
Translated by Laijon Liu 20081210

The plums are falling on the ground,
And most of them are still hanging.
If you do like me,
Then don’t let go your good chance.

The plums are falling and falling,
And only a few are left hanging.
If you do like me,
Then do not hesitate now.

The plums are all fallen on the ground,
We must gather them in a basket.
If you do like me,
Then please tell me right now.

Note:
How beautiful a lady takes the initiate to find her love? 2000 or 2500 years ago?
For love we are all equal I guess that everyone must take his or her initiation.
She used plums to describe her urgency and desire for love.
There are many odes, and this is one of ode that I like Confucius’s pick. He picked many good odes like this one for us and our children.

The rose is budding, while she’s blooming, please adore her.
The rose is withering, while she’s fading, please abide with her.
The rose is fallen, and she’s gone, please always remember her.

摽有梅
摽有梅，其實七兮，求我庶士，迨其吉兮。
摽有梅，其實三兮，求我庶士，迨其今兮。
摽有梅，頃筐塈之，求我庶士，迨其謂之。

To My Parting Wife

To My Parting Wife
By Han Anonymous
Translated by Laijon Liu

We tied up our hair to become husband and wife,
And our love and affection we never doubted.
We shared our joy for the present days,
And made love for all our good times.
But I was called to far place for war,
And you counted every hour of departing night.
When stars already disappeared,
And that was our parting time.
Men serving in the battlefield,
Never know the time of their reunion.
We could only hold hand and cry a long sigh,
Tears gushing for we were torn apart alive.
But we should pursue happiness with all effort,
And never forget the moment of joyful time.
If I somehow alive, then I’ll come back quick;
If death visits me, then I’ll always remember you.

Note:
To this poet that love lasts longer than death, according to his last verse.
This kind of poem is just too difficult to translate or compose, and I don't think anyone wants to write such poem or happy to read it, but I know this poem heals the poet. a likely soldier and his wife, and anyone who is in same situation, and those who passing by. And this poem is so simple and true, and it is work of humanity, that we are struggling in btwn battle and love, enemy and lover. Sigh.


留别妻

结发为夫妻，恩爱两不疑。
欢娱在今夕，嫣婉及良时。
征夫怀远路，起视夜何其。
参晨皆已没，去去从此辞。
行役在战场，相见未有期。
握手一长叹，泪为生别滋。
努力爱春华，莫忘欢乐时。
生当复来归，死当长相思。

Bright moon, why are you so clear?

Bright moon, why are you so clear?
By Han Anonymous Poet
Translated by Laijon Liu

Bright moon, why are you so clear?
And shine on my blind and bed?
Too much sorrow, how can I sleep?
So I hold my jacket and hang about.
A traveler am I and liberal as a cloud,
But nothing is better than being at home.
Away from family I wander alone,
My grieving thoughts with whom I share?
Staring at far, then back into my room,
To find my tear marks on my cloth.

古詩十九首之十九：明月何皎皎
明月何皎皎，照我羅床幃。
憂愁不能寐，攬衣起徘徊。
客行雖雲樂，不如早旋歸。
出戶獨徬徨，愁思當告誰？
引領還入房，淚下沾裳衣。

The Universe

Universe
By Laijon Liu 20081125

Universe, dark and deep.
In her infinite space,
Oceans of stars blinking.

Light exits in black hole,
Time meets its end,
Knowledge finds its edge.

Her mighty dust cloud,
Perpetually stretching,
And all things tiny.

Planets as thoughts,
Sparkling their past:
Their birth and death.

Her each moment,
An eternal film,
Yet too short to last.

Her mind unknowable,
Holds darkness and light,
But separates you and me.

Your face and my world,
Are but past image,
Till her heart beat stops.

宇宙

黑暗深沉的宇宙.
在她无限的空间里,
星海在闪烁.

光在黑洞中消逝,
时间与它的终点相遇,
知识找到了它的边缘.

她那强大的尘云,
永恒的扩展着,
万物都变得渺小.

星球如若心思,
闪烁着过往的光:
它们的幻生和死亡.

她的每一个瞬间,
都是一个永恒影片,
却在短暂中结束.

她的意念不可预知,
包容了黑暗与光明,
却隔离了你和我.

你的面孔, 我的世界,
不过是过去的影像,
直到她的心跳停歇.

Hair

Hair
By Laijon Liu (20081101)

You are lady’s beauty and lovemaking,
Man’s pizzazz and edge;
But to me, you are the pain and sorrow,
So I dare not to keep you long
That stranger surprised to guess my age,
Also that abhorrent mirror
Divested my youthful days.
So my hat and razor become my friends,
Coz they know my real age,
And let me temporarily regain my deserved due.
I’d wish to shave all, my glory and my grey field,
And the blessing and curse…
So I can baldly walk toward death.
I know, I would never see,
Nor ever need to shave
You, that don’t belong to me.

Note:
Read a Chinese Poetess’s poem Hair, so I was deeply moved, wrote my feeling.

头发
刘垒钟(20081101)

你是女儿的秀美与寄情,
男儿的潇洒和锋芒,
但对我来说你是痛苦和忧伤,
是我从来不敢留长
使路人惊诧我的年岁,
还有那可恶的镜子
夺去了我的青春和时光.
所以帽子和剃刀成了我的挚友,
因为它们才知道我真实的岁数,
可以让我暂时重温应得的补偿.
我愿剃光一切,荣耀和苍桑,
还有那上帝的赏罚...
光着头, 迈向死亡.
我知道, 我不会再看到,
也不必再剃去,
那不属于我的你.

读梦儿诗有所感动,忍不住...头发连着心啊!

Think Road (思路)

Think Road
Laijon Liu (2008.10.23)

I often found out,
I was sitting at a spot blankly,
Looking at another spot;
One that I wanted to reach,
But never knew how.

I often saw,
I stood among people and watching;
Some were rushing, some fell;
It seemed we all wish to leave,
Leave this still and unmoving place.

I was often puzzled,
I walked far and near,
Climbed lonely peak, dived into peopled sea,
Spent all my life and energy running,
And stopped, sitting at the former spot.

To Next 3 Stanzas ->

思路
刘垒钟 (2008.10.23)

我时常发现,
我坐在一个地方呆望,
呆望着另一个地方;
一个我想去,
却不知怎样去的地方.

我时常看到,
我站在人群中观望;
有人奔跑, 有人跌倒;
似乎我们都想离开,
离开这静止不动的地方.

我时常困惑,
我走过四面八方,
攀上了高山, 也跳入了人海,
穷尽一生精力奔走,
停下, 却是那原来的地方.

On my bedside, a pile of books

On my bedside, a pile of books
Laijon Liu (2008.10.10)

On my bedside, a pile of books,
That I can lie down and read,
But often I just hold one and sleep.
Those are my favorite ones.

On my floor, stacks of books,
My entire sections of reference,
That I’ve never checked,
But weekly I sweep off their dust.

For books, I've made many promise:
“Oh God, I will never buy more.”
But I love all the bookstores,
And fruit of wisdom tree of God.

Holding a new book I opened my door,
“Oh books! Oh God! Piles and stacks!”
I wondered maybe I bought too much
Or my space was too small.

(The World of Poetry 1-3) 人间词话

(The World of Poetry 1-2) 人间词话

By Mr. Wang Guo Wei王国维 (1877-1920)

Part I 第一部分

01. Art of poem is best to build on realm. Through its realm, it naturally becomes high character, so it logically contains famous lines. The Five Dynasty and Northern Song poets stand at such state because of this.
[一]词以境界为最上。有境界，则自成高格，自有名句。五代、北宋之词所以独绝者在此.

Example:

菩萨蛮. (Pu Sha Man)
李白. (Poet Li Bai 701-762)
Even forest vast and lonely smokes as twine, cold mountains as one belt in a grieving blue.
Dusk light shines into the high chamber, there’s a person standing in sorrow.
Jade stairs are empty and standing, night rested birds take off in rush.
Where is the homeward road? [I see] the inns faraway and nearby.
平林漠漠烟如织，寒山一带伤心碧。
暝色入高楼，有人楼上愁。
玉梯空伫立，宿鸟归飞急。
何处是归程? 长亭连短亭。

望江南. (Wang Jiang Nan)
李煜. (Poet Li Yu 937-978)
Idle dream away, southern country now in clear autumn.
Thousand mile rivers and hills in cold color and far,
Among the deep reed flowers I berth my lonely boat,
To hear flute playing from chamber under clear moon.
闲梦远，南国正清秋。
千里江山寒色远，
芦花深处泊孤舟。
笛在月明楼。

苏幕遮 (Su Mu Zhe)
范仲淹 (Poet Fan Zhong Yan 989-1052)
Blue cloudy sky, yellow leaves ground, autumn color repeating waves, above waves cold jade smoke.
Decline sun reflects on mountains and sky joints water, fragrant grass affectionless, stand under the declining sun.
Gloomy homesick soul, longs for return journey. Night and night, good dreams invite a person to sleep.
Bright moon over high chamber but don’t lean there alone, drink enters sorrow belly, becomes lovesick tears.
碧云天，黄叶地，秋色连波，波上寒烟翠。
山映斜阳天接水，芳草无情，更在斜阳外。
黯乡魂，追旅思。夜夜除非，好梦留人睡。
明月楼高休独倚，酒入愁肠，化作相思泪。

02. There are method of creating realm and describing realm, which are the type of “Ideality” and “Realistic”. But these two types are difficult to identify because masters create their realm that is natural and also near to their ideal.
[二]有造境，有写境，此“理想”与“写实”二派之所由分。然二者颇难分别，因大诗人所造之境必合乎自然，所写之境亦必邻于理想故也。
Example:

望江南 (Wang Jiang Nan)
温庭筠 (Poet Wen Ting Jun 812-870?)
After wash and dress,
I alone lean on the balcony to watch the river.
Thousands boats passed but none is,
Inclined sun lovingly shines upon the leisured flow.
My heart breaks in White Duckweed state.
梳流罢，
独倚望江楼。
过尽千帆皆不是，
斜晖脉脉水悠悠。
肠断白苹州。

蝶恋花 (Die Lian Hua)　
周邦彦 (Poet Zhou Bang Yan 1056-1121)
Moon clear and bright and shocked crows still cannot perch.
Sandleak runs remnant, bucket winch pulling over metal well mouth.
Awake my two eyes in this bright [night],
Tears dropped on pillow and red cotton blanket still cold.
Stretch my hands in frosty wind that blows my temple hair shadow.
Leaving decision, in hesitation; goodbye words, sorrowful to hear.
Over the upper chamber railing, the Big Dipper moves across,
Cold dew, person far off, and cocks crow.
月皎惊乌栖不定。
更漏将残，辘牵金井。
唤起两眸清炯炯，
泪花落枕红棉冷。
执手霜风吹鬓影。
去意徊徨，别语愁难听。
楼上阑干横斗柄，
露寒人远鸡相应。

03. Realm that involves poet’s existence, realm that does not involve poet’s existence.
“Tears in my eye I asked the flower but it did not reply, scattering petals flying and passed over the hanging swing.” “What a lonely chamber, shut and closed, In the early spring, still enduring the cold. Only the song of cuckoo accompanied us, Till the sun declined, another evening call.” realm that involves poet’s existence.
“Pick chrysanthemum under east hedgerow, leisurely view the south hills” “Cold current rise wave after wave, and white birds leisurely soar and land.” realm that does not involve poet’s existence. Poet involves in his realm to use his own feeling to reflect matters, so all content are in the color of poet’s mood. Realm that does not include poet only uses matter to reflect content, so readers cannot define which matter reflects the poet or matter thru the content. When ancient poets compose, they are often involved in their realm, but achieving the other, only the heroes(Great Poets) can build up.
［三］有有我之境，有无我之境。“泪眼问花花不语，乱红飞过秋千去①”，“可堪孤馆闭春寒，杜鹃声里斜阳暮②”，有我之境也。“采菊东篱下，悠然见南山 ③”，“寒波澹澹起，白鸟悠悠下④”，无我之境也。有我之境，以我观物，故物皆著我之色彩。无我之境，以物观物，故不知何者为我，何者为物。古人为词，写有我之境者为多。然未始不能写无我之境，此在豪杰之士能自树立耳。

Note: 注释：

冯延巳 (Feng Yan Si 903-960)
鹊踏枝 (Que Ta Zhi)
Garden is deep and how deep it is?
Willows as smoke, blanketed as countless screens.
Jade horse reins, curved saddles surrounded gorgeous place.
High chambers blocked the courtesan roads.
Sweeping rain, gushing wind in March dusk,
Door was closed by the evenfall, no method to bid spring to stay.
Tears in my eye I asked the flower but it did not reply,
Scattering petals flying and passed over the hanging swing.
"庭院深深深几许？
杨柳堆烟，帘幕无重数。
玉勒雕鞍游冶处，
楼高不见章台路。　
雨横风狂三月暮，
门掩黄昏，无计留春住。
泪眼问花花不语，
乱红飞过秋千去。"

秦观 (Poet Qin Guan 1049-1100)
踏沙行(Ta Sha Xing)
The chamber disappeared into the fog;
Moon was lost above the crossed ferry.
Toward the Peach Garden in the lost land,
I desperately searched her access road.
What a lonely chamber, shut and closed,
In the early spring, still enduring the cold.
Only the song of cuckoo accompanied us
Till the sun declined, another evening call.

The plum flower for the postman to send;
Silk letter in the carps’ mouth that delivered.
Pile of my thoughts stacked on myself
Are just endless sorrows, I cannot shake off.
The river Cheng liberally flowed in joy and bliss,
Circling the mountain of her same surname.
But for whom she must turn, and flow away,
To Xiao Xiang river, that a different name?
"雾失楼台，月迷津度，
桃源望断无寻处。
可堪孤馆闭春寒，
杜鹃声里斜阳暮。　
驿寄梅花，鱼传尺素，
砌成此恨无重数。
郴江幸自郴山，
为谁流下潇湘去！

陶潜 (Poet Tao Qian 365-427)
饮酒诗 第五首 (Drink Poem #5)
Build my house in the town,
but I can’t hear traffic sound.
I ask myself how this can be:
my heart is far so my place’s remote.
Pick chrysanthemum under east hedgerow,
And leisurely view the south hills.
Smell the fragrance of hill day to dusk,
Watching flying birds gather in return.
Among all these buried a true sense,
I wish to tell but no word to describe.
结庐在人境，而无车马喧。
问君何能尔，心远地自偏。
采菊东篱下，悠然见南山。
山气日夕佳，飞鸟相与还。
此中有真意，欲辨已忘言。

元好问 (Poet Yuan Hao Wen 1190-1257)
颖亭留别 (Farewell by Glume Booth)
Again old friends we must separate our carrying,
By the river we stationed our returning horses.
Heaven and earth exhibit their clear distance,
All scenes are seemed in debt to each other.
Nine mountains lofty and steep stand gloomily,
They would never suffer override or bestride.
Cold current rise wave after wave,
And white birds leisurely soar and land.
A homeward heart rushes the person,
But all matters rest in a relaxed form.
Our pot and vessels and our cry and howl,
Make the dust and dirt to grieve and sigh.
I look back to see the person in the booth
Among the even forest in fade color, all as painting.
故人重分携，临流驻归驾。
乾坤展清眺，万景若相借。
北风三日雪，太素秉元化。
九山郁峥嵘，了不受陵跨。
寒波澹澹起，白鸟悠悠下。
怀归人自急，物态本闲暇。
壶觞负吟啸，尘土足悲咤。
回首亭中人，平林淡如画。



--

A Shooting Star

A Shooting Star By Laijon Liu 2008.09.28 A shooting star, I see her, Glittering across the skies, From heavens to our earth. I wonder how she was born. Does she bathe in frost or dust? Is she made of fire or ice or both? Coz I see her blue flare, So light, yet so cold! Gliding in her lonely miles. Oh, she's rushing at her course, By accident or preset cause, Not sure she’s flying or falling. Whether she’s coming or going, No one could change her course, Or make her fast or slow or stop. I know now she’s long gone, It’s just her yesterday's glow, If tomorrow comes, then I too shall go. 一 颗 流 星 劉 壘 鐘 20081025 一 颗 流 星 , 我 看 到 她 , 闪 烁 着 穿 过 群 空 , 从 天 堂 来 到 大 地 . 我 想 知 道 她 是 怎 样 出 生 的 . 她 的 洗 礼 是 在 寒 霜 中 还 是 在 尘 土 中 ? 她 是 火 做 的 , 冰 做 的 , 还 是 混 合 的 ? 因 为 我 看 到 她 蓝 色 的 火 焰 , 那 样 的 明 亮 , 却 那 样 的 冷 ! 在 她 寂 寞 的 里 程 中 滑 翔 着 . 噢 , 她 向 着 她 目 标 急 冲 , 象 是 意 外 的 , 或 是 注 定 的 , 我 不 确 切 她 是 在 飞 翔 还 是 在 跌 落 . 无 论 她 来 也 好 或 去 也 好 , 没 人 能 改 变 她 的 方 向 , 或 让 她 变 快 变 慢 或 停 止 . 我 知 道 她 现 在 早 已 去 了 , 闪 烁 着 的 是 她 昨 日 的 光 , 当 明 天 来 到 时 , 我 也 该 去 了 .

33 Best RockOrNot Christian Songs

‘Who the Hell I Think I Am’ Picked 33 Best RockOrNot Christian Songs

Ok, I know! I mean me not Rolling Stone or Billboard or Mainstream Media Corp, but I’ve got all the rights to hand pick a few songs coz I’ve just boozed a bottle of wine and thinking me have a insight. But there are too many rocks that I often read other’s choice, but there are many Christian songs too from classic to modern and now. So I figured since I purchased a lot WOWs, I mean the most of them are WOWs and other Christian Rock album, why not just make a selection from them period 90s to now. So I hereby put down the names of the songs (Not In Rank Order) that I think I would never delete them from my MP3 player, even though the space is so tiny and small. So here is list, and I may make mistakes on the title and singers, but who cares as long as I listen to their songs everyday and they would forgive me. One may find my source is much limited, it is not that I lack of talents but money:) which is one of most important talents to get by such task.

Song Title:	Singer:
“Above All Else”	Vicky Beeching
“Above All”	Michael W. Smith
“Bless the Broken Road”	Marcus Hummon
“Blessed Be Your Name”	Tree64
“Draw Me Close”	Kelly Carpenter
“Getting Into You”	Relient K
“Great Light of the World”	Bebo Norman
“Healing Rain”	Michael W. Smith
“How Great Is Our God”	Chris Tomlin
“I Can Only Imagine”	MercyMe
“I Don’t Want to Go”	Avalon
“I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)”	Chris Tomlin
“In Christ Alone”	Brian Littrell
“It Is Well With My Soul The Rivers Gonna Keep Rolling”	Amy Grant
“Lifesong”	Casting Crowns
“Marvelous Light”	Charlie Hall
“Mighty To Save”	Hillsong
“My Savior My God”	Aaron Shust
“Nothing But the Blood”	Passion Worship Band
“Nothing Compares”	Third Day
“Praise You In This Storm”	Casting Crowns
“Say Won’t You Stay”	Jennifer Knapp
“Spoken For”	MercyMe
“Strongtower”	Kutless
“Take You Back”	Jeremy Camp
“The Heart of Worship”	Matt Redman
“The Other Side of the Radio”	Chris Rice
“The Valley Song Sing of Your Mercy”	Jars of Clay
“Who Am I”	Casting Crowns
“Whole World in His Hand”	Passion Worship Band/?
“Wonderful, Merciful Savior”	Selah
“You Never Let Go”	Matt Redman
“You Will Never Walk Alone”	Point of Grace

"Song Title" by Singer

“Lifesong” by Casting Crowns
“Nothing Compares” by Third Day
“Take You Back” by Jeremy Camp
“Above All” by Michael W. Smith
“Spoken For” by MercyMe
“Getting Into You” by Relient K
“How Great Is Our God” by Chris Tomlin
“I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe
“Above All Else” by Vicky Beeching
“In Christ Alone” by Brian Littrell
“My Savior My God” by Aaron Shust
“You Will Never Walk Alone” by Point of Grace
“Blessed Be Your Name” by Tree63
“Great Light of the World” by Bebo Norman
“The Valley Song Sing of Your Mercy” by Jars of Clay
“Strongtower” by Kutless
“Whole World in His Hand” by Passion Worship Band/?
“You Never Let Go” by Matt Redman
“Draw Me Close” by Kelly Carpenter
“Healing Rain” by Michael W. Smith
“I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)” by Chris Tomlin
“It Is Well With My Soul The Rivers Gonna Keep Rolling” by Amy Grant
“Wonderful, Merciful Savior” by Selah
“Marvelous Light” by Charlie Hall
“Nothing But the Blood” by Passion Worship Band
“Who Am I” by Casting Crowns
“I Don’t Want to Go” by Avalon
“Say Won’t You Stay” Jennifer Knapp
“The Heart of Worship” by Matt Redman
“Mighty To Save” by Hillsong
“The Other Side of the Radio” by Chris Rice
“Bless the Broken Road” Written by Marcus Hummon
“Praise You In This Storm” by Casting Crowns

Heaven Clean Sand (Autumn)

Heaven Clean Sand (Autumn)
Poet Bai Pu 1226-1306 (Yuan Dynasty)

Lonesome village, setting sun, scarce rosy clouds,
Light rising smokes, old trees, and jackdaws.
A tiny shadow of flying swan,
Green mountains and blue water,
Pallid grass, red leaves, and yellow flowers.

Note:
Many Chinese ancient poets are painters, writers, musicians, and dramatists….
Mr. Bai Pu was one of them lived the era of Yuan dynasty. This poem was also a song, that the poet composed these characters in a rhythm of song, put them in an order of painting, and gave a listener a melody, a picture, and an eternal beautiful and sad place to dwell. Too bad, he did not write travel essay:-) I could not make the English translate sounds in rhythm, but still the picture strikes a soul that the autumn arrives, thru a painting of words to echo one’s feeling.


[越调]天净沙 (秋)
白朴. 元

孤村落日残霞，
轻烟老树寒鸦。
一点飞鸿影下，
青山绿水，
白草红叶黄花。

Three Tang Love Songs

Bamboo Branch Style Ci Poem
Tang Poet Liu Yuxi
Translated by Laijon Liu

The peach flower over that hill they bloom.
The spring river circles the hill she flows.
The redness of the flower fades as your love,
Only the water flows endlessly as my sorrow.

山桃红花满上头，
蜀江春水拍山流。
花红易衰似郎意,
水流无限似侬愁。
_______________________________________
Bamboo Branch Style Ci Poem
Tang Poet Liu Yuxi
Translated by Laijon Liu

The willows are green and the river quietly flows,
I hear your love song crosses the river sung.
Sun rises from east to meet the rain of west,
Please tell me it’s rainy or bright?

杨柳青青江水平，
闻郎江上唱歌声。
东边日出西边雨，
道是无晴还有晴。

________________________________________
Wave Washes Sand Style Ci Poem
Tang Poet Bai Juyi
Translated by Laijon Liu

See, the river, the lake, and the water of sea,
How shall I compare your love to my heart?
I hate to see that the tide keeps its promise,
But lovesickness aches deeper than the sea.

借问江湖与海水，
何似君情与妾心。
相恨不如潮有信，
相思始觉海非深。

我从未见过到荒原

我从未见过到荒原
艾米丽.迪肯森 (美国1830-1886)
刘垒钟译

我从未见到过荒原.
我从未见到过大海-
但我却知道那石南花的色泽
还有那澎湃的巨浪.

我从未跟上帝聊过,
也没有游历过天堂-
但我确信我所在的位置
好像那航图已放在了我的手上-

I Never Saw a Moor
Emily Dickinson

I never saw a moor,
I never saw the sea-
Yet know I how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.

I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven-
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given-

无题 - 献给失足女

无题 - 献给失足女
刘垒钟

雨洗山青花落红,
湘女河畔独踏青.
春江碧水波澜意,
滴滴逝去皆是情.

Rain washed the mountains green,
And the flowers were falling in red,
A goddess on the riverside alone
Beckoned the coming spring.
Spring river and blue water
Streamed as her billowing will,
Drop by drop passing away
Were all her love and affections.

Spring Night

Spring Night
By Song Poet Su Shi

A moment of spring night
Costs
Ten thousands gold,

Even the flower loses her fragrance
And
The Moon sometimes wanes.

Songs and instrument are played
Over the balcony
Softly and softly,

And a swing in the garden
Kindly sways,
While the night gets quietly and quietly.


春宵
蘇 軾

春宵一刻值千金
花有清香月有陰
歌管樓臺聲細細
鞦韆院落夜沈沈

Spring Day

Spring Day
By Song Poet Zhu Xi

In a good day
I enjoy the nature
By the river of Si Shui.

Limitless great view
Is suddenly renewed
At once.

Everyone notices
The kind face
Of the east wind,

Myriad purple
And thousands red
Are all colors of spring.

春日
朱 熹

勝日尋芳泗水濱
無邊光景一時新
等閒識得東風面
萬紫千紅總是春

Poem by Chance In a Spring Day

Poem by Chance In a Spring Day
By Song Poet Cheng Hao

Scarce cloud floats,
Soft wind blows,
It’s close to noon;

Among the flowers,
Follows the willows,
I cross the front river.

Nowadays people
Do not know
Why my heart is with joy;

Because I’ve learned
From the young lads
To take leisure for myself.

春日偶成
程 顥
雲淡風輕近午天
傍花隨柳過前川
時人不識余心樂
將謂偷閒學少年

Parting II

Tang Poem 300: #296

Parting II
By Tang Poet Du Mu

With much love
You act
As if you care not much.

But in front of the cup
Of our farewell feast
You can’t smile.

Even the candle has heart
And feels the sadness
Of our parting.

Sheding its tears for us
Till
The sky gets bright.

贈別之二
杜牧

多情卻似總無情，
唯覺樽前笑不成。
蠟燭有心還惜別，
替人垂淚到天明。

A SPRING SONG

Tang Poem 300: #281

A SPRING SONG
Liu Yuxi

With new makeup on her fair face
She steps down
The red chamber.

But the spring light is still locked
In the deep garden
That gives her much sorrow.

She slowly walks
To the center court
To count the flowers.

A dragonfly flying,
And rests
On her jade hairpin.

劉禹錫
春詞

新妝宜面下朱樓，
深鎖春光一院愁。
行到中庭數花朵，
蜻蜓飛上玉搔頭。

ON MEETING A MESSENGER TO THE CAPITAL

Tang Poem 300: #270

ON MEETING A MESSENGER TO THE CAPITAL
By Tang Poet Cen Can

Long and long
The road to east,
I look toward my home.

My sleeves are worn out,
And my tear drenched,
That never dried.

On our horse we meet,
But I have no brush and paper
That I can write,

So please just send my words
To my home
That I am fine.

逢入京使
岑參

故園東望路漫漫，
雙袖龍鐘淚不乾。
馬上相逢無紙筆，
憑君傳語報平安。

A SONG OF LIANGZHOU

Tang Poem 300: #267

A SONG OF LIANGZHOU
By Tang Poet Wang Han
Translated by Laijon Liu

Tasteful grape wine
Shining in my jade cup
That sparks the night.

Let’s drink off
On our horse
In the harmony of our guitars.

Oh you, please do not laugh
If we all get drunk
And fall asleep in the battlefield,

Since ancient time,
How few come back
From the campaigns and wars?

Note: Guitar is actually six string instrument call Pipa.

涼州詞
王翰

葡萄美酒夜光杯，
欲飲琵琶馬上催。
醉臥沙場君莫笑，
古來征戰幾人回。

IN HER QUIET WINDOW

Tang Poem 300: #265

IN HER QUIET WINDOW
By Tang Poet Wang Changling

The young wife
In her bedroom
Knows not about sorrow.

In a sunny spring day,
She puts on makeup
And walks up to her green chamber.

In suddenness she sees
The green willows
Shade the side of road,

Then sorrow strikes,
And she regrets;
It’s too bad to push her husband to chase for ranks.

閨怨
王昌齡

閨中少婦不知愁，
春日凝妝上翠樓。
忽見陌頭楊柳色，
悔教夫婿覓封侯。

AT HIBISCUS INN PARTING WITH XIN JIAN

Tang Poem 300: #264

AT HIBISCUS INN PARTING WITH XIN JIAN
By Tang Poet Wang Changling

Cold rain showers into river
As the night falls
On the sky of Wu.

By the calm dawn,
After farewell to my guest,
I stand by myself as the lonely Mt. Chu.

In Luo Yang city,
If my family and friends ask
About my life here,

Then please tell them,
My heart is a piece of ice
That contained in a jade pot.

芙蓉樓送辛漸
王昌齡

寒雨連江夜入吳，
平明送客楚山孤。
洛陽親友如相問，
一片冰心在玉壺。

Miss My Brother on Sep Ninth

Tang Poem 300: # 263

Miss my brother on Sep Ninth
By Tang Poet Wang Wei

Alone drifting
In a strange land
As an odd guest.

On every holiday
I miss my family
With sorrow that hurts more.

From faraway I know
That my brother
Climbs the high place to see me.

Among the field,
The dogwood are planted all over,
But still lacks another figure.

九月九日憶山東兄弟
王維

獨在異鄉為異客，
每逢佳節倍思親。
遙知兄弟登高處，
遍插茱萸少一人。

COMING HOME

Tang Poem 300: # 261

COMING HOME
By Tang Poet He Zhizhang
Translated by Laijon Liu

Since young I leave home,
And now I return
With an age of old.

My accent is not yet changed,
But my hairs
Are turned gray.

My young grandchildren come
And greet me,
But they don’t know who I am.

With their bright smile they ask:
Hi, my guest.
Where are you from?

Chinese:
回鄉偶書
賀知章

少小離家老大回，
鄉音無改鬢毛衰；
兒童相見不相識，
笑問客從何處來。

Haiku for Emily Dickinson

Haiku for Emily Dickinson
by Laijon Liu 2008

Remote cottage, quiet stream-
Emily lived and wrote
Her life verse.

Single pen, deep nights,
No one heard the silent cry
Of her notebook.

Mourn for the Ancient Battle Field (吊古战场文 唐-李华)

Mourn for the Ancient Battle Field
By Li Hua of Tang Dynasty
Translated by Laijon Liu

Oh vast!
Even sand without any slopes,
Immense and unpeopled ground,
Only the rivers belted the mountains.
At this dark and miserable place,
Wind moans and sun whitens.
Erigeron broken and grass dried up,
Morning is covered by the frosts.
Flying birds pass, do not land to rest;
Solo beasts lost, chases wildly for his pack.
The station captain tells me:
“This is the ancient battle field,
And many armies were sunk here.
In the dark cloudy days,
You may hear the crying of ghosts.”

I pity for them, and wonder:
Were they the soldiers of Qin or Han
Or the solders of present time?

I heard the time of Warring States,
When the states of Qi and Wei raised their taxes,
Then the states of Chu and Han recruited for battle.
Their soldiers traveled for ten thousands miles,
And year by year they marched in open land,
Gathering their herds in desert grass by dawn,
And at night they walked across the frozen river,
On vast earth and under the limitless skies
They lost their road to home.
In between their swords and spear,
They entrusted their dear live,
And full of bitter sorrows,
To whom they should tell?
Since the period of Qin and Han,
Our borders torched by frequent battles,
And middle kingdom was collapsed thru generations.
There is old saying:
“The tribal forces by our border
And common peoples within our kingdom
Do not fight against a righteous court;
But now our civilized teaching lost its course,
So our martial officials dominated our court,
Their strategy never matches righteous way,
And the way of a king is not proper for a vast land.”
Sigh.

I think the north winds rolling across the desert,
The tribal forces take their chances to attack us.
Our general leads with his pride,
Who is only able to react above the gate.
In the field he rushes to raise our banner,
And our old soldiers march into their formations.
The strict commands are carried out by fear,
And honor is to be respected, but life is cheap.
Sharpening arrows pierce through flesh and bones,
Storming sands strike the figures and faces.
Our soldiers and foes struggle and fight,
The mountains and rivers are trembled by their cries.
Their loud howls can shut the rivers,
Rolling across the sky as thunders.

Not to mention the dense dark clouds,
Blanket the heaven and cover the earth,
Freezing breeze fogged our borders.
Stored snow sunk leg and knee,
Icy freezes hair and beard.
Even the vultures are hiding in their cave,
Battle horses are hesitated to march forward.
Amours and cloth are freezing cold,
Every hand and fingers are frostbite,
Skins break and muscles are torn.
Such bitter cold weather only favors the tribal force,
In the cold winter season they come and loot and slaughter.
Our captains are surrendered, then our general is killed.
Dead bodies piled up the river bank,
And blood filled the holes under the great wall.
Whether they are noble or commons,
The same they shall be the dry bones in the wild field.
There is no word to describe!
The drum sound weakens and fades,
Our soldiers’ spirit is broken and their strength withered,
Their arrows are gone, and the bowstrings are broke.
So they hold their sword and saber
Dash into close combat,
But their strong blades are split;
Two sides are pressing hard for life or death.
Give up? Then be a slave in a strange land for life.
Keep fighting? Only another dead body unburied!
Birds sing no song, mountains stand in silence,
Long dark night, the wind blows his sorrow,
Lost lingering souls curdle, the sky dims,
Ghosts and gods gather as dark clouds pile.
Sunlight does not shine here, so plants never grow,
Only the moon reflects her grieving light on frost.
There is never a scene as dreadful as this in our world!

I heard that General Li Mu leads the army of Zhao,
Breaks the attack of the tribal force,
And gains the land of thousand miles,
So Xiong Nu flees far away.
But the Emperor of Han drains nation to defend,
Only obtains a bankrupt result.
Nation’s security is depended on officials, not the number of armies.
Dynasty Zhou drive away their foes,
And stop their marching at Tai Yuan,
Build a city in the north for defense,
Then pull back all their force to capitol for victory,
In their temple they offer their rites and drinks,
Record their success and give promotions,
Then all people are happy and live in peace.
Emperor and officials work with respects.
The first Emperor Qin builds the great wall to east sea shore,
Countless live are devastated,
And fresh blood paint ten thousand miles land.
And emperor of Han wages war on Xiong Nu,
Even though he captures the Mount Yin,
Still many his soldier’s bodies cover the vast field,
His achievement does not match with disaster.
I wonder people live under heaven,
Who does not have parents?
Years of their feeding to only fear they will die young.
Who does not have siblings? As his hands and feet?
Who does not love his wife as friend and partner?
Those somehow live, to whom they shall give their thanks?
Those fall in battle, to whom they shall give their blames?
Whether they are live or dead, no one from their home knows.
Even if their family hears some message, they still don’t believe.
All day they sit in sorrow, only wish to reunite in dream.
They can only offer their sacrifice and libation drink,
And then look toward far heaven and cry gushing tears.
Heaven and Earth worry for them, grass and woods grieve for them.
How could they tell their feeling thru sacrifice?
And where the lost souls should go?
Not to mention the drought comes after war,
People would drift and disperse.
I sigh and ask that we live by fate or by choice?
Because such dreadful thing troubles us since ancient times!
How should we do?
Because the defense of our nation is rely on our friendship with neighbors.

Note:
This is a prose poem that is written by an official of Tang Emperor, for the purpose of stopping war. Judging from his writing, I know his is a talented official that can really helps his nation, not only his nation, but his neighbor nations should trust him also. I wonder if nation picks her officials like Mr. Li Hua, then all people will live in a peaceful life, and nation with nation work in friendship not thru power or wars, maybe I am just dreaming. Anyway, this prose poem is for officials and politicians, anyone may use it and memorize it free of charge, so I could feel I’ve done something for world peace.


Chinese:

吊 古 战 场 文 （唐）李华

浩浩乎！平沙无垠，不见人，河水萦带，群山纠纷。黯兮惨悴，
风悲日曛。蓬断草枯，凛若霜晨。鸟飞不下，兽铤亡群。亭长告余曰：
“此古战场也。常覆三军，往往鬼哭，天阴则闻。”

伤心哉！秦欤？汉欤？将近代欤？吾闻夫齐魏徭戌，荆韩召募，
万里奔走，连年暴露。沙草晨牧，河冰夜渡；地阔天长，不知归路。
寄身锋刃，【月＋福之右】臆谁诉？秦汉而还，多事四夷；中州耗
【睾攵】，无世无之。古称戎夏，不抗王师。文教失宣，武臣用奇；
奇兵有异于仁义，王道迂阔而莫为。

呜呼噫嘻！吾想夫北风振漠，胡兵伺便。主将骄敌，期门受战。
野竖旄旗，川回组练。法重心骇，威尊命贱。利镞穿骨，惊沙入面。
主客相搏，山川震眩。声析江河，势崩雷电。

至若穷阴凝闭，凛冽海隅；积雪没胫，坚冰在须。鸷鸟休巢，征
马踟蹰，缯纩无温，堕指裂肤。当此苦寒，天假强胡，凭陵杀气，以
相剪屠。径截辎重，横攻士卒；都尉新降，将军覆没。尸填巨港之岸，
血满长城之窟。无贵无贱，同为枯骨，可胜言哉！鼓衰兮力尽，矢竭
兮弦绝。白刃交兮宝刀折，两军蹙兮生死决。降矣哉，终身夷狄；战
矣哉，骨暴沙砾。鸟无声兮山寂寂，夜正长兮风淅淅。魂魄结兮天沉
沉，鬼神聚兮云幂幂。日光寒兮草短，月色苦兮霜白。伤心惨目，有
如是耶？

吾闻之：牧用赵卒，大破林胡，开地千里，遁逃匈奴。汉倾天下，
财殚力【疒甫】。任人而已，其在多乎？周逐猃狁，北至太原，既城
朔方，全师而还。饮至策勋，和乐且闲。穆穆棣棣，君臣之间。秦起
长城，竟海为关，荼毒生灵，万里朱殷。汉击匈奴，虽得阴山，枕骸
遍野，功不补患。

苍苍蒸民，谁无父母？提携捧负，畏其不寿。谁无兄弟，如手如
足？谁无夫妇，如宾如友？生也何恩，杀之何咎？其存其没，家莫闻
知。人或有言，将信将疑。【涓涓】（“忄”代 “氵”）心目，寝
寐见之。布奠倾觞，哭望天涯。天地为愁，草木凄悲。吊祭不至，精
魂何依？必有凶年，人其流离。鸣呼噫嘻！时耶命耶？从古如斯。为
之奈何，守在四夷。

Man Jiang Hong – General Yue Fei

Man Jiang Hong – Yue Fei
By General Yue Fei of Song Dynasty
Translated by Laijon Liu

My wrath bristles pierce thru my helmet,
By the rail I stand
To watch the whistling rain stopped.
I look up,
Facing the sky to give a long roar,
And strong passion surges in my chest.
Thirty years my triumph and fame are nothing but dust and dirt,
Eight thousands mile road I’ve traveled under the cloud and moon.
Do not wait,
For our young hair turn to gray,
So we can only give vain grief.
Shame of Jing Kang,
Is not yet revenged;
Regret of servants,
When shall all disperse?
Let’s drive our long chariots to raze
The Ridge of Helan Mountain!
With our brave will to feed our hunger on the flesh of Hu,
Thru our chat and jest we drink Xiong Nu’s blood for our thirst.
Let’s start anew,
To retake our past mountains and rivers
Before the court of Heavens!

Note:
When I was about 5, I went to Hang Zhou for a visit the General Yue Fei Temple, and kowtowed to his giant statue for my heartfelt tribute to my hero, a Nationalist of Song Dynasty, who died of his Emperor’s poison wine, so that way he would not lead national army and riot to save the nation from northern invaders, his emperor rather sit in his half kingdom, would not want to see any of his generals to liberate the fallen territory, because he was afraid the his general would gain more popularity than him, so his weak control would lose the grasp on people. And when I was 9/10, my father gave me a book that told a historical story of General Yue Fei. So he is always my model, my idol, and my hero.

I suggest people should visit his temple in Hang Zhuo, China; if one cannot, then please check the wikipedia website as follow link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yue_Fei

And following is a partial translate my Chinese Opera of "Tattoo By Mrs. Yue"
that is telling the story of Mother of General Yue Fei gave a tattoo her son to remind him to always serve his country.

Tattoo by Mother of General Yue Fei
(Chinese Opera, Partial translated by Laijon Liu )

Let Peng Ju come and stand in this grass room to listen
A good man should spread his fame under the heavens.

Remember that your mother has raised you for 20 years,
Only to wish you to retain a great will to protect our state.
But I’m afraid that my son you do not keep your origin will,
So I here to mark a tattoo to remind you as it’s on your heart
Tell your wife to bring the ink and put where you kneel

I raised my brush to carefully look my son’ back,
Thinking of that he should be a loyal model and righteous
To serve the emperor’s order for our nation as house girder
So I hereby print the four characters in full shape

Holding the needle with trembling hand and unease heart
his body of blood and flesh is my own birth and soul,
How could I be the mother and pierce my son’s skin and flesh?
So I can only bite my teeth and finish all the piercing work.

With grief and tear I break my own heart and gut.
A stroke by stroke I pierce the mark on his back,
My needle pierce on his flesh, breaks his mother’s heart.
And my son holds his pain without a sound and word,
Only the drops of blood and the drops of ink tainted his cloth.
I finish the four characters and I fell my spirit is gone…

“Sincere Loyalty Serves Nation” Words are heavy and heart is longed.

------


Poem in Chinese:
满江红
岳飞

怒髮衝冠，
憑欄處，
瀟瀟雨歇。
抬望眼，
仰天長嘯，
壯懷激烈。
三十功名塵與土，
八千里路雲和月。
莫等閒
白了少年頭，
空悲切。
靖康恥，
猶未雪；
臣子恨，
何時滅？
駕長車踏破
賀蘭山缺！
壯志飢餐胡虜肉，
笑談渴飲匈奴血。
待從頭
收拾舊山河，
朝天闕。

Opera in Chinese:

《岳母刺字》---岳母


〔劇情簡介〕 南宋初年，金兵南下，汴京留守杜充望風潰逃，后又可恥

地做了漢奸。

不愿投敵的杜充部將岳飛心灰意冷，一時糊涂，逃回家中伺

奉老母。

岳母曉之以民族大義，并在兒子背上刻下“精忠報國”四字，

勉勵岳 飛與敵寇血戰到底。

這段唱詞是現仍健在的馬少波先生所作。整個唱段大義凜然，

情真意切，是老旦行中最為出色的唱段之一。



〔西皮導板〕

叫鵬舉站草堂聽娘言講，
Let Peng Ju come and stand in this grass room to listen

〔回龍〕

好男兒理應當天下名揚。
A good man should spread his fame under the heavens,

〔慢板〕

想為娘二十載教兒成長，
Remember that your mother has raised you for 20 years,
惟望你懷大志扶保家邦。
Only to wish you to retain a great will to protect our state.
怕的是我的兒難堅志向，
But I’m afraid that my son you do not keep your origin will,
因此上刺字銘記在心房。
So I here to mark a tattoo to remind you as it’s on your heart
叫媳婦取筆硯兒寬衣跪在堂上，
Tell your wife to bring the ink and put where you kneel

〔原板〕

提羊毫撫兒背仔細端詳。
I raised my brush to carefully look my son’ back,
厲節操秉精忠作人榜樣，
Thinking of that he should be a loyal model and righteous
勤王命誓報國方為棟梁。
To serve the emperor’s order for our nation as house girder
我這里把四字書寫停當，
So I hereby print the four characters in full shape

〔散板〕

持金（zan）不由我手顫心慌。
holding the needle with trembling hand and unease heart
血肉軀原本是娘生娘養，
his body of blood and flesh is my own birth and soul,
為娘的哪 能夠將兒的膚發傷。
how could I be the mother and pierce my son’s skin and flesh?
無耐何咬牙關把字刺上，
so I can only bite my teeth and finish all the piercing work.

〔快板〕

含悲忍淚狠心腸。
with grief and tear I break my own heart and gut.
一筆一划刺背上，
a stroke and a stroke I pierce the mark on his back,
刺在兒背娘心傷。
my needle pierce on his flesh, breaks his mother’s heart.
我的兒忍痛無話講，
and my son holds his pain without a sound and word,
點點血墨染衣裳。
only the drops of blood and the drops of ink tainted his cloth.
刺罷了四字我心神恍……
I finish the four characters and I fell my spirit is gone.

〔散板〕

“精忠報國”語重心長。
“Sincere Loyalty Serves Nation” Words are heavy and heart is longed.

Pu Sa Man (Pillow Swear)

Pu Sa Man (Pillow Swear)
By Anonymous of Tang Dynasty
Translated by Laijon Liu

By the pillow I give a thousand swears:
(No break! No break! And No break!)
Until the green mountains were mashed;
And the stone weight of steelyard floats;
And the Yellow river dried up her drops;
The night stars glare with the white sun;
The North Pole Seven stars shift to south;
Still, we are not going to break!
Until the sun shines at this midnight hour.

Chinese:
菩萨蛮
（敦煌曲子词）

枕前发尽千般愿，
要休且待青山烂。
水面上秤锤浮，
直待黄河彻底枯。
白日参辰现，
北斗回南面。
休即未能休，
且待三更见日头。

Haiku, I danced alone

At my last birthday party,
No one showed up,
So I danced alone :)

Note:
Watched 'Girl Behaving Badly' this weekend, inspired by Chelsea's Alone Birthday dancing, so I cloud not hold myself but burst an agonizing laughter.

Preface for Feast with Bros in Peach Plum Garden

Preface for Feast with Bros in Peach Plum Garden
By Li Bai
Translated by Laijon Liu

O heaven and earth are the living room of all things; light and time are passengers of hundred generations. And floating life is like a dream, and how much joy we can make? So our ancestors lit their candle to roam at night, held good reason. Not to mention the sunny spring waves at us with her smoky scene, magnificent nature inspires us through her literature. And we meet in this garden of peach blossom, to express such heavenly blessed joyful matter. All you bros are talented, and hold the gift of Poet Hui Lian; only my prose song is no match to Poet Kang Le. The elegant sight scene is not yet all covered, but our boasted speeches are already turned into clear and limpid. Lets set our good feast in the flower bush, pass our dishes and cups under the drunken moon. Without good poems, how shall we express our graceful feelings? If anyone cannot make a poem, then he must drink three penalty cups as the rule of Garden of the Golden Valley.

Note:
This is prose poem genre that dominated Han Dynasty literature style to the end of Tang Dynasty. In Chinese call ‘Fu’, its body reads more like prose essay, but sounds more like prose poem.

Hui Lian and Kang Le were both poets of Nan Dynasty. Li Bai loved these two poets and often mentioned them thru his writing.

Ok, this prose poem tells the tradition and culture of ancient Chinese poets, or most all the writers, they spent their whole life in the state of drunkenness, poets and writers often went out together partying in the forest, countryside, garden, river bank, and mountains to drink, feast and gathering all the inspiration from the beauty of nature, grace of friendship, and intoxicated spiritual lift up of wine, which reminds myself on the weekend in corona park of new york, with a big bottle of beer, a poetry book, a note book, a pen, a soccer ball, and maybe a camera, of course, often my pictures are off-focused, yet, my words are collected of my true feeling with the echo of the weather, the trees, and all the soccer players, and in ancient time, the drink was low degree, like nowadays wine and beer, that is why all these poets could still make perfect rhythm lines. often I find out all the good works are produced after a little drinking, as of writing, as of relationship and intimacy, even rock songs:) no wonder many nowadays writers compare their writing as sex, coz both may get better after some of liquor, but I hope they could endure their strength of their talent, not as long as just 2 minutes passion:)

Chinese:

春夜宴诸从弟桃李园序
[李白]

夫天地者，万物之逆旅也，光阴者，百代之过客也。而浮生若梦，为欢几何？古人秉烛夜游，良有以也，况阳春召我以烟景，大块假我以文章。会桃李之芳园，序天伦之乐事。群季俊秀，皆为惠连。吾人咏歌，独惭康乐。幽赏未已，高谈转清。开琼筵以坐花，飞羽觞而醉月。不有佳咏，何伸雅怀？如诗不成，罚依金谷酒数。

Picture Story of My Club Shoes

Please Drink Wine

Please Drink Wine
By Li Bai (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Laijon Liu

Don’t you see, the Yellow River comes from heaven,
Streams into the ocean and does not return?
Don’t you see, in front of the bright mirror of high chamber
We grieve for our white hair, that the grey threads of dawn
Become snow by dusk?
If life pleases, then have all the fun;
Don’t drink to the moon with your empty gold cup;
For heaven blessed us talents for a helpful purpose;
Even thousands gold were spent we’d still earn back.
So cook lamb, cut beef and just fill with joy,
And we must drink three hundred cups in one breath.
Master Yin! Scholar Danqiu!
Please drink wine! And don’t stop!
Let me sing you a song,
Please offer your ear to hear.
Bells, drums, dishes and jade are not worthy;
I’d rather be drunk forever and never awake;
Since ancient, the wise and holy are all lonesome;
And only the names of drinkers are remained.
King Chen of old days feasted in peace and joy,
Ten thousand coins for a cask of wine, to warm up his jokes.
Five dapple horse, a thousand gold piece furs,
Call the boy to trade them for good wine,
With you we dissolve all ancient sorrows.

Note:
This poem is one of the poems that was done by Li Bai while drunk, I believe, which tells much about his feeling at the time when he drinking with his friends master Yin and scholar Danqiu. Li Bai was a poet that he wrote with his rare talents, he did not have to work hard. Readers could smell his wine from the verses from this poem, the way he opened up his inner feeling, his sorrow, and positive self-view about his ability, his non-material valued life view, a little pessimistic view about the world.

Master Yin and Scholar Danqiu: Li Bai’s friends.
King Chen: a talented poet of Han Dynasty, the second son of Minister Cao Cao.


Chinese:

将进酒
李白

君不见，黄河之水天上来，
奔流到海不复回.
君不见，高堂明镜悲白发，
朝如青丝暮成雪。
人生得意须尽欢，
莫使金樽空对月。
天生我材必有用，
千金散尽还复来。
烹羊宰牛且为乐，
会须一饮三百杯。
岑夫子! 丹丘生!
将进酒! 君莫停!
与君歌一曲，
请君为我侧耳听。
钟鼓馔玉不足贵，
但愿长醉不愿醒。
古来圣贤皆寂寞，
惟有饮者留其名。
陈王昔时宴平乐，
斗酒十千恣欢谑。
主人何为言少钱，
径须沽取对君酌。
五花马，千金裘，
呼儿将出换美酒，
与尔同销万古愁.

Tang Poems 300, A Word for Word Translate

Tang Poems 300, A Word for Word Translate

I am very happy that ‘Tang Poem 300’ are on the world web for free, and I really admire people who translated them through a good job, but I am feeling a little lack of info that some great poems are translated thru a dynamic system (Thought for Thought), So I am here to provide a direct translate (Word for Word). So readers could grasp how those great masters constructed their poems. And I choose the poem from #224 to #260, Short Poems.

My Translation Sample:
空 (Empty)山(Mountain)不(Not)見(See)人(People)，
但(Only)聞(Hear)人(People)語(Talking)響(Sound)。
返(Reflect)景(Sunlight)入(Enter)深(Deep)林(Forest)，
復(Again)照(Shine)青(Green)苔(Moss)上(On)。
___________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #224
鹿柴
王維

空 (Empty)山(Mountain)不(Not)見(See)人(People)，
但(Only)聞(Hear)人(People)語(Talking)響(Sound)。
返(Reflect)景(Sunlight)入(Enter)深(Deep)林(Forest)，
復(Again)照(Shine)青(Green)苔(Moss)上(On)。

DEER-PARK HERMITAGE
Wang Wei

In the Empty Mountain I do Not See People,
Only Hear People’s Talking Sound.
The Reflected Sunlight Enters the Deep Forest,
Again Shines On the Green Moss.

________________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #225

王維
竹里館

獨 (Alone)坐 (Sit) 幽 (Quite/Deep and Remote)篁 (Bamboo)裡(Inside)，
彈(Play)琴(Qin)復(And)長(Long)嘯(Roar)。
深(Deep)林(Forest)人(People)不(Not)知(Know)，
明(Bright)月(Moon)來(Comes)相(To/look))照(Shine)。

IN A RETREAT AMONG BAMBOOS
Wang Wei

Alone Sitting In the Remote Bamboos,
I Play Qin And I give Long Roars.
and In the Deep Forest People do Not Know,
Only the Bright Moon Comes To Shine.

Note:
Qin, a seven-stringed instrument
______________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #226
王維
送別

山(Mountain)中(Inside/Middle)相(To)送(Send)罷(Finish)，
日(Sun)暮(Sunset)掩(Close)柴(Brushwood)扉(Fence Door)。
春(Spring)草(Grass)明(Next)年(Year)綠(Green)，
王(Wang/King)孫(Grandson)歸(Return)不(Not)歸(Return)。

A PARTING
Wang Wei

In the Mountain I Accompanied you for Farewell,
After Eventide I Closed the Brushwood Door.
Spring Grass Next Year will grow Green.
Wang’s Grandson Return or Not?
_____________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #227

王維
相思

紅(Red)豆(Bean)生(Born/Grow)南(South)國(Country)，
春(Spring)來(Come)發(Produce)幾(How Many)枝(Branch)。
願(Wish)君(You)多(Much)采(Pluck)擷(Pick)，
此(This)物(Item/Thing)最(Most)相(To)思(Think)。

相思: (combination of these two character means Lovesickness)

ONE-HEARTED
Wang Wei

Red Beans Grow in the South Country,
Spring Comes and How Many Twigs are Produced.
I Wish You to Pluck and Pick Much More,
because This Thing is the Best for Lovesickness.
_________________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #228

王維
雜詩

君(You)自(From/Self)故(Old/Origin)鄉(Village)來(Come/Arrive)，
應(Should/Suppose)知(Know)故(Old)鄉(Village)事(Matter/News)。
來(Come)日(Day)綺(Silken/Fine)窗(Window)前(Front)，
寒(Cold)梅(Plum)著(Develop)花(Flower)未(Yet).

故鄉: Hometown
寒梅: a plum that blossom in late winter.

LINES
Wang Wei

You Come From our Home Village,
And Should Know the Home Village News.
The Coming Day, when you’re by the Silken Window Front,
See if the Cold Plum Opened its Bloom Yet?
_________________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #229
裴迪
送崔九

歸(Return)山(Mountain)深(Deep)淺(Shallow)去(Go)，
須(Must)盡(finish/Cover)丘(Hill)壑(Ravine/Gully)美(Beauty)。
莫(Don’t)學(Learn from/Study)武(Wu)陵(Ling)人(People/person)，
暫(Temporarily)遊(Travel and play)桃(Peach)源(Garden)裡(Inside)。

武陵: a place

A FAREWELL TO CUI
Pei Di
If you want to Return to the Deep and Shallow Mountains,
Then you Must See all the Beauty of Hills and Ravines.
Don’t learn from the man of Wuling,
Who temporarily traveled and played in the Peach Garden.

Note:
Peach Garden and Man of Wuling: The tale was written by a famous poet of Jin Dynasty, the Author’s name was Tao Chien or Tao Yuan Ming (365-427).
A fisherman of Wuling went out for fishing one day, and he was lost into an isolated and peaceful place during his fishing, and the place was covered by blossomy peach trees, so he went through the peach tree forest, saw a mountain, and by its foot, there was a small cave, and some light shone from inside, so he entered the cave and followed the light, and after some walk, the cave getting wider and wider, and eventually he came out and saw all fine fields, beautiful pools, strong bamboos and mulberry trees… and at there he met a village of people who lived there unconnected to the world, they were happy and lovely, and welcoming to the fisherman, greeted him with their feast, during their conversation the fisherman learned that their ancestors were hiding from war period of Qin Dynasty, which was the period of The First Emperor, and they had lived their for about 600 years, and they avoided Han Dynasty, Three Kingdoms, Jing Dynasty… and all the state conflicts and tearing wars. After, the fisherman bid farewell to return to the outside world, they asked him to not to tell anyone else about the place. When he came out of the cave, he remembered each mark of the turns of the road and river, and after he reached the township, he immediately reported to the governor, so the governor ordered officials to go with the fisherman to seek the place, but after many attempts, the fisherman and the officials could not find the place. So they gave up the search.

This poem:
The poet used this tale to encourage his friend to stay out of the political career for life after her heard that he friend was quitting his governing position. Most of Tang and Song Dynasty poets use metaphor of their love of mountain and river to express their dislikes and tiredness of involvement of politics, which was never clean as the river nor as high as the mountain, so their will and pursuit should follow the nature, not social and business matter.
________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #230

終南望餘雪
祖詠

終(Zhong/End)南(Nan/South)陰(Shade/Lunar)嶺(Peak)秀(fine/beautiful)，
積(Store up/Accumulate)雪(Snow)浮(float)雲(Cloud)端(end/top)。
林(Forest)表(show/reveal)明(Bright)霽(sky blue/clearing)色(Color)，
城(City)中(Inside)增(increase)暮(Sunset)寒(Cold)。
陰嶺: Combination of character means North of a Hill
林表 Combination of character means tips of tree

ON SEEING THE SNOW-PEAK OF ZHONGNAN
Zu Young

the North of Zhong Nan Peak is beautiful,
its Piled Snow Top to the Floating Clouds.
The Tip of the Forest Shines Sky Blue Color,
And the City gets colder as the Sun declines.
__________________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #231

宿建德江
孟浩然

移(Move)舟(Boat)泊(Berth/Moor)煙(Smoke/Mist)渚(Islet/Waterside)，
日(Sun)暮(Sunset)客(Guest/Traveler)愁(Sorrow)新(New)。
野(Wild/Wilderness)曠(Vast/Spacious)天(Sky)低(Low)樹(Tree)，
江(River)清(Clear)月(Moon)近(Close/Near)人(People/Person)。

A NIGHT-MOORING ON THE JIANDE RIVER
Meng Haoran

Rolling my Boat to Berth by the Misty Islet,
Then the Setting Sun gives the Traveler New Sorrows.
The Vast Wilderness and Sky cover the low trees,
Only the clear river brings the moon closer to me.
_________________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #232

春曉
孟浩然

春(Spring)眠(Sleep)不(Not)覺(Feel)曉(Sunrise/Dawn)，
處(place)處(Place)聞(Hear)啼(Bird Sing)鳥(Bird)。
夜(Night)來(Come)風(Wind)雨(Rain)聲(Sound)，
花(Flower)落(Fall)知(Know)多(Much/Many)少(Few/Little)。

多少: Combination of character means How Many

A SPRING MORNING
Meng Haoran
In Spring Sleep I did Not Feel the Sunrise,
But I Heard the Birds Singing Everywhere.
Last Night came the sound of wind and rains,
And after it, How Many Flowers are Fallen?
______________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #233

夜思
李白

床(Bed)前(Front)明(Bright)月(Moon)光(Light)，
疑(Doubt)是(Is/Are)地(Earth/Ground)上(Above/Up)霜(Frost)。
舉(Raise/Lift)頭(Head)望(Look)明(Bright)月(Moon)，
低(Lower/Bow)頭(Head)思(Think)故(Old)鄉(Village)。

故鄉: Combination of character means Hometown or Home.

IN THE QUIET NIGHT
Li Bai

Bright MoonLight spread In Front my Bed,
I doubted it was the Frost Above the Ground.
Raised my Head to look at the Bright Moon,
And Bowed my head to think of my Home.

2nd version

The bright moonlight shining by my bed

or it’s the frost rising from the ground

I look up, stare at the bright moon

and look down, think of my home

_________________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #234

怨情
李白

美(Beautiful)人(People)捲(Roll Up)珠(Pearl)簾(Blind/Curtain)，
深(Deep)坐(Sit)蹙(Frown)蛾(Moth)眉(eye brow)。
但(Only/But)見(See)淚(Tear)痕(Mark)濕(Wet)，
不(Not)知(Know)心(Heart)恨(Hate/Regret)誰(Whom/Who)。

美人: Combination of character means beautiful lady

A BITTER LOVE
Li Bai
A Beautiful Lady is Rolling Up the Pearl Blind,
In Deep stillness she Sits with her Frowned Moth-liked Eye Brow.
I can Only See her Tear and Wet Marks.
But I do Not Know to Whom her Heart Regrets and Hates.

Note: In Chinese culture that a girl hates someone who breaks her heart, well everywhere the same.
_____________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #235
八陣圖
杜甫

功(Merit/Achievement)蓋(Cover/Surpass/Build)三(Three)分(Divide)國(Kingdom)，
名(Name)成(Succeed/Form)八(Eight)陣(Formation)圖(Map)。
江(River)流(Flow)石(Rock/Stone)不(Not)轉(Turn)，
遺(lose/Leave Behind)恨(Hate/Regret)失(Lose/Miss/Mistake)吞(Swallow)吳(Wu)。

八陣圖: Combination of character means a unique battle formation that invented by Zhu Ge Liang aka Kong Ming, a minister of Nation Shu in Three Kingdoms Period.
吳: Name of Nation in Three Kingdom Period, as Wei, Shu, Wu.

THE EIGHT-SIDED FORTRESS
Du Fu
His Achievement Built Three Dividing Kingdoms,
His Name Formed the Eight-Formation Map.
The River streams and his Rocks are Not Turned;
only his Regret was Left Behind, that it’s a Miss to Swallow Wu.

Note:
Du Fu praised Zhu Ge Liang thru this poem. But many translated the last verse wrong, that thru historical document everyone knows that Zhu Ge Liang never wanted to attack Kingdom Wu, he always supported the ally of Kingdom Shu and Wu to stand against Kingdom Wei that was ruled by Cao Cao. Because many people misunderstood the character of the last verse (失: has two meanings: Miss or Mistake)
_____________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #236

登鸛雀樓
王之渙

白(White)日(Sun)依(Lean On/Rely On/By)山(Mountain)盡(End)，
黃(Yellow)河(River)入(Enter)海(Sea/Ocean)流(Flow)。
欲(Desire)窮(Limit/End)千(Thousand)里(Li)目(Eye)，
更(Evenmore)上(Above/Go Up)一(One)層(Floor/Level)樓(Building)。

里: Ancient Chinese mile

AT HERON LODGE
Wang Zhihuan

White Sun behind the Mountain he Sets,
Yellow River into the Ocean she Flows;
If you Desire to See Over a Thousands Li,
Then Go Up One More Floor.
_____________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #237
送靈澈
劉長卿

蒼(Grey)蒼(Dark Green)竹(Bamboo)林(Forest)寺(Temple)，
杳(Gloomy)杳(Deep and Serene)鐘(Bell)聲(Sound)晚(Late/Evening)。
荷(Lotus)笠(Hat)帶(Bring/Also)斜(Decline)陽(Sun)，
青(Green)山(Mountain)獨(Alone)歸(Return)遠(Far Off)。

ON PARTING WITH THE BUDDHIST PILGRIM LING CHE
Liu Changqing
A Temple in the Dark Green Bamboo Forest,
Deep and Gloomy the Bell Sounded Evening.
The Lotus Hat, Also the Declining Sun
to the Green Mountain they returned Far Off.
________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #238
彈琴
劉長卿

泠(Clear)泠(Clear)七(Seven)絃(Strings)上(Above)，
靜(Quiet/Still)聽(Hear)松(Pine)風(Wind)寒(Cold)。
古(Acient/Old)調(Melody)雖(Only)自(Self)愛(Love)，
今(Now)人(People)多(Many/Much)不(Not)彈(Play/Pluck)。


ON HEARING A LUTE-PLAYER
Liu Changqing
Clear sound flows Above the Seven Strings,
In Quietness I Hear the Pines in Cold Wind.
This Old Melody Only I love,
And Now Many People do Not Play.
________________________________________

Tang Poem 300: #239
送上人
劉長卿

孤(Alone)雲(Cloud)將(And/fit/Suit)野(Wild)鶴(Crane)，
豈(How)向(Toward/Favor)人(People)間(Space)住(Dwell)。
莫(Don’t)買(Buy)沃(Fertile)洲(Continent)山(Mountain)，
時(Time/Hour/Season)人(People)已(Already)知(Know)處(Place)。

沃洲: A famous place, Wu Zhou, for spiritual hide out or retreat.

FAREWELL TO A BUDDHIST MONK
Liu Changqing

Alone Cloud And a Wild Crane,
How could they Favor to Dwell at People’s Space?
Don’t Buy a place on Wu Zhou Mountain,
that at this Time People Already Know.
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Tang Poem 300: #240

秋夜寄邱員外
韋應物

懷(bosom/Mind/Think Of)君(You)屬(Belong To/At)秋(Autumn)夜(Night)，
散(Come Loose)步(Step)詠(Sing Poem)涼(Cool)天(Day)。
空(Empty)山(Mountain)松(Pine)子(Son/Seed)落(Fall)，
幽(Quiet/Serene/Remote)人(People/Person)應(Should)未(Not Yet)眠(Sleep)。

散步: Combination of character means: A Leisure Walk, To Chinese as Meditation of both body and mind, like lover walk, or lonesome walk to think.
松子: Combination of character means: Pinecone

AN AUTUMN NIGHT MESSAGE TO QIU
Wei Yingwu

Think Of You At this Autumn Night
Thru this Leisure Walk I Sing to the Cool Day.
On the Empty Mountain, the Pinecone Fall,
the Remote Person Should Not Sleep Yet.
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Tang Poem 300: #241
聽箏
李端

鳴(Sing)箏(Zheng)金(Gold)粟(Millet)柱(Pole)，
素(White)手(Hand)玉(Jade)房(Room)前(Front)。
欲(Desire)得(To Receive/Have)周(Zhou)郎(Lang/Man)顧(To Look)，
時(Time)時(Time)誤(Mistake)拂(pluck)絃(String)。

箏(Zheng): A Chinese Instrument, with rectangle shaped top, built 7 strings on, and with for short legs or none, that musician sits on the floor crossed-leg or kneeling, and plucking the strings, which either on his lap or in front her on the floor.
玉(Jade)房(Room): Combination of character means: the space for the hand on top of the Zheng Instrument.
周(Zhou)郎(Lang): Combination of character means: A famous general in Three Kingdom period, His Name Zhou Yu, who was a talented musician. He could read any off tones of people playing, and then he must visit the musician to correct him.

ON HEARING HER PLAY THE HARP
Li Duan

A Singing Zheng with the Gold Millet legs,
Her White Hand on The Jade Room Front.
She Desires To Have Zhou Lang To Look,
Time and Time she Mistakenly Plucks the Strings.

Note:
This poem might talk about Zhou Yu’s wife who was in love with her husband.
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Tang Poem 300: #242
新嫁娘
王建

三(Three/Third)日(Day/Sun)入(Enter/Into)廚(kitchen)下(Down/Below)，
洗(Wash)手(Hand)作(Make)羹(Juicy/Tasty/Delicious)湯(Soup)。
未(Not Yet)諳(Know)姑(Mother-In-Law)食(Food/Eating)性(Habit/Character)，
先(Before/Earlier/In Advance)遣(Dispatch/Send)小姑(Sister-In-Law)嘗(Taste)。

小(Little)姑(Sister-In-Law): Combination of character means Sister in Law
食性: Combination of character means Appetite

A BRIDE
Wang Jian

On the third day, I got Down Into the Kitchen,
Washed my hands to Make a Delicious Soup.
Yet I Knew Not my Mother-in-law’s Appetite,
So I had my Sister-in-law to Taste In Advance.

Note:
In Tang Dynasty a girl of fifteen years old is fit to marriage, if she passed eighteen and was still not engaged then her parents might be held for court. Jeez, I wish nowadays government could use this policy to solve the near future single problem:-), but the In-Laws were not easy to deal with in Tang period:-)
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Tang Poem 300: #243
玉臺體
權德輿

昨(Yester)夜(Night)裙(Skirt)帶(Belt)解(Untied)，
今(Today)朝(Morning)蟢子(Web Spider)飛(Fly)。
鉛華(Powder Cream)不(Not)可(can/Should)棄(Throw Away/Abandon)，
莫是(Maybe)藁砧(Cutting Board)歸(Returned/Come Back)。

藁砧(Cutting Board): sounds the same as ‘husband’.

THE JADE DRESSING-TABLE
Quan Deyu

Last Night my Skirt Belt was Untied itself,
And This Morning a Web Spider was Flying.
My Powder Cream I Should Not Abandon,
because Maybe my husband Comes Back.

Note:
Superstitious terms of Ancient Chinese believed
If a wife’s skirt belt was untied itself, then her faraway husband would be back soon.
If a woman saw a house spider dropping his web then she gonna get married or reunite.
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Tang Poem 300: #244
江雪
柳宗元

千(Thousand)山(Mountain)鳥(Bird)飛(Fly)絕(disappear/Break)，
萬(Ten Thousand)徑(Path)人(People/Person)蹤(Footprint)滅(Perish/Vanish)。
孤(Lonesome)舟(Boat)簑(Straw Cloak)笠(Straw Hat)翁(Old Man)，
獨(Alone) 釣(Fishing)寒(Cold)江(River)雪(Snow)。

RIVER-SNOW
Liu Zongyuan

Thousand Mountains where Birds Fly to Disappear,
Ten Thousands Path where People’s Footprint are Vanished
Only A Lonesome Boat, A Straw Cloak, Hat, and an Old Man
Alone Fishing in the Cold River Snow.
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Tang Poem 300: #245
行宮
元稹

寥落(Sparse)古(Old/Ancient)行(Walk/Travel)宮(Palace)，
宮(Palace)花(Flower)寂寞(Solitary/lonely/Lonesome)紅(Red)。
白(Grey)頭(Head)宮(Place)女(Woman/Lady)在(Be/Exist/At)，
閒(idle/spare time)坐(sit)說(speak/talk about)玄宗(Xuan Zhong)。

行(Walk/Travel)宮(Palace): combination of character means a Emperor’s travel palace.
玄宗(Xuan Zhong): A Tang Emperor Li Long Ji from 685-762.

THE SUMMER PALACE
Yuan Zhen

In the Sparse Old Travel Palace,
The Palace Flower bloom in Lonesome Red.
The Grey Head Palace Lady is still there,
Sitting with all the Spare Time to talk about Xuan Zhong.
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Tang Poem 300: #246
問劉十九
白居易

綠(Green)螘(Foam)新(New)醅(Unstrained)酒(Wine)，
紅(Red)泥(Earthen)小(Small)火(Fire)爐(Stove)。
晚(Evening)來(Come)天(Sky)欲(Desire/be just gonna)雪(Snow)，
能(Could)飲(Drink)一(One)杯(Cup)無(Not/No)。

A SUGGESTION TO MY FRIEND LIU
Bai Juyi

I have Newly brewed Green Foam Unstrained Wine,
in the Red Earthen pot, on the Small Fired Stove.
this Evening Comes with the sky is gonna Snow,
Could you please Drink One Cup, or No?

Note:
Many Editor or Agent suggest their writers not to drink to write, they don’t know better. After reading this poem, why should anyone stop to drink and write? In fact, 90% Chinese poets and literature masters live their whole life in drinks and drunkenness. Some were born from a jag of wine, and some were drown in the drinking tank, otherwise could Li Bai invite the bright moon, dance with his shadow, Su Shi chatting with moon? Or Cao Xueqin writing the Dream of Red Mansion? Even Son of man drinks:-) and after gives Holy sermon. And Homer married his gods and humans and poets with wine. And nowadays, many western poets welcome suicide because in their life there is no lively juice that could give them the power of life, death and rebirth, that a magic pill to bring them from realty to dream. And for people, we make friend with enemy in drunkenness, and after we are full, all sins might be forgiven by us… So I beg you to have a cup of salvation that is concentrated from the Agony of God, and by this you shall be saved literally:)
By the way, this poet called himself Old Drunk Guy, seriously.
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Tang Poem 300: #247
何滿子
張祜

故(Old/Ancient)國(Kingdom)三(Three)千(Thousand)里(Li)，
深(Deep)宮(Palace)二(Two)十(Ten)年(year)。
一(One)聲(Sound/Tone/Voice)何滿子(He Man Zi)，
雙(Pair)淚(Tear)落(Fall)君(You/Emperor)前(Front)。

何滿子(He Man Zi): A name of sorrow song, also a song for dance.
里(Li): Ancient Chinese Mileage

SHE SINGS AN OLD SONG
Zhang Hu

Her Old Kingdom Three Thousand Li’s away,
And staying in the Deep Palace for Twenty Years.
Her One Tone of He Man Zi,
A Pair her Tears already Fall in Front of Emperor.

Note:
There are two different stories about the name of the song (He Man Zi) thru historical document.
A prisoner of Tang Dynasty sang this sorrowful song in front of the emperor to plead for his life, the tone of the song was so grievous, but in end, the emperor did not pardon him.
A favored concubine of Tang emperor sang this song near the emperor’s deathbed, and after the song, she fell, and the physician tested her pulse, and reported her condition to the emperor that she was still breathing but her guts already broken.
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Tang Poem 300: # 248

登樂遊原
李商隱

向(Toward)晚(Evening)意(Feel)不(Not)適(Suit/Fit/Comfort)，
驅(Drive)車(Car/Chariot)登(Climb/Go up)古(Old/Ancient)原(Field/Battle ground)。
夕(Evening))陽(Sun)無(No)限(limit)好(good/fine/fair)，
只(only)是(Is/Are)近(Near/Close)黃昏(Dusk)。

THE LEYOU TOMBS
Li Shangyin

Toward Evening I Feel No Comfort,
So I Drive the Car to Climb the Old Field.
the Evening Sun shines Unlimited Beauty,
Only It is Close to the falling Dusk.
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Tang Poem 300: # 249
尋隱者不遇
賈島

松(Pine)下(Belo/Under)問(Ask)童(Boy)子(Son)，
言(Say)師(Master)採(Gather/Pluck)藥(Herb)去(Go)。
只(Only)在(In/On/At)此(This)山(Mountain)中(Middle/Inside)，
雲(Cloud)深(Dense)不(Not)知(Know)處(Place)。

A NOTE LEFT FOR AN ABSENT ECLUSE
Jia Dao

Under the Pine Tree I Asked the Boy,
he said the Master went to gather the herb.
Only On and Inside This Mountain,
Clouds were Dense, he Knew Not the Place.
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Tang Poem 300: # 250
渡漢江
李頻

嶺(Mountain Ridge)外(Out/Outside)音(Tone/News)書(Letter/Book)絕(Break/Stop)，
經(Pass/Thru)冬(Winter)復(Again)立(Raise/Rise)春(Spring)。
近(Near/Close to))鄉(Village)情(Feeling/Emotion)更(More/Much)怯(Nervous/Timid)，
不(Not)敢(Dare)問(Ask)來(Come)人(people/Person)。

CROSSING THE HAN RIVER
Li Pin

Outside of Mountain Ridge, the News Letter Stopped;
Winter Passed, Again the Spring Arisen.
Closer to my Village, and I Felt Much Nervous,
I Dared Not to Ask the Coming people.

Note:
This poet wrote about himself that he was allowed to go back to his village from his exile. He wrote this poem on his way, usually people would love to chat with others on their way back home, but this poet had nervous feeling instead, because maybe his unsuccessful career or disappointed experience prevented him to have confidence to talk with people, especially to those who came from his hometown. I understand and have compassion about his feeling, because at the bottom situation of life or career, people instinctly lock themselves up till depression occupy their dead body thru the torture of soul, they want to hear about their family and talk to others, but losers got no speech in this world, especially a lonely disappointed depressed poet who is on his way home from exile.
There is an example of Odysseus’ return, I remembered that the gods made him a poor old men, battered by age, he stepped on his shore, but did not come home immediately, and the tearful moment of him meeting his wife, his skin was stricken by sunlight, and his soul was smashed by the sea, his was old man, could never stood as a conqueror of Troy, but an old dog that begged the mercy of Olympus, and that was some similar feeling of the poet.
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Tang Poem 300: # 251
春怨
金昌緒

打(Beat)起(Up)黃(Yellow)鶯兒(Oriole)，
莫(Don’t)教(Let/Teach)枝(Branch)上(On/Avoce0啼(Sing)。
啼(Sing)時(Time)驚(wake)妾(Me/My in female form)夢(Dream)，
不(Not)得(Able/Receive)到(Arrive)遼西(Liao Xi)。

遼西(Liao Xi): A place where national army battled with other ethnic Tribes, to put away the uprising and separations. In China, there are more than 50 ethnics dwelled thru history, people do not often live in peace, so within the realm, people fight against each other and build new boundary, whether using excuse of religion or ethnic, or political… such as nowadays some of Tibetans and Taiwanese. A western example: Civil War, North Union battling and conquering the independence will of the South Confederacy. Thank God, Mr. Abraham Lincoln united all the states.

A SPRING SIGH
Jin Changzu

Beat Up the Yellow Orioles,
Don’t Let them Sing Above the Branch.
When they Sing that Awake My Dream,
So I am Not Able to Arrive at Liao Xi.
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Tang Poem 300: # 252
哥舒歌
西鄙人

北(North)斗(Pole)七(Seven)星(star)(Triones)高(High)，
哥舒(Ge Shu)夜(Night)帶(Armed/Wear/Bring)刀(Sabre)。
至(Till/Untill)今(Now)窺(Spy)牧(Herding)馬(Horse)，
不(Not)敢(Dare)過(Pass/Cross)臨洮(Lin Tao).

北斗七星: Triones
哥舒(Ge Shu): name of general of national army, he slept with his armor and weapon.
臨洮(Lin Tao): A river.

GENERAL GE SHU
Xibiren

Triones were up and High,
Ge Shu Wore his Saber at Night.
Till Now we Spied on their Herding Horses,
That they Dare Not to Cross over Lin Tao.
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Tang Poem 300: # 253
長干行二首之一
崔顥

君(You)家(Family)何(What)處(Place)住(live)，
妾(I)住(Live)在(At)橫塘(Heng Tang)。
停(Stop)船(Boat)暫(temporal/just)借問(May I ask)，
或恐(Maybe)是(Is/Are)同(Same)鄉(Village)。

君(You): male form.
妾(I): female form.

A SONG OF CHANGGAN I
Cui Hao

Where do your family live?
I live at Heng Tang.
Just Stop the Boat if I May Ask,
Coz Maybe we Are from the Same Village.

Note:
One time, I used this poem and started a conversation with a nice blonde on the #7 train, but she did not give me her number in the end, coz I held strong Chinese accent, she clearly knew that no way we were from the same town:-)
Of course this is a pick up poem, no doubt, but what is interesting is the poet using a woman voice to make this poem in Tang period (700CE), and from this poem we can see, that the woman was very brave and openly to pursue someone she had interest in.
So, for those ladies are still waiting, please stop waiting, and start asking, telling and demanding, don’t you see our mirror growing old by hour and hair to frost by night, what’s gone do not comes back, as the time river flows away with our good memories and only the endless sorrows and regrets still gushing through and through. How many chance we come across with someone in life that we may walk for a while? If one, then you are lucky; two, then you’ve earned credits and bonus. A night costs priceless for the lonely ones. If the boat won’t take you to where you want to go, then transfer by getting off and getting on, but whatever you do, don’t jump into the river, coz the water is so cold, and you may die alone:-)
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Tang Poem 300: # 254
長干行二首之二
崔顥

家(Family/House)臨(By/Near)九(Nine)江(River)水(Water)，
來(Come)去(Go)九(Nine)江(River)側(Side)。
同(Same/Both)是(Is/Are)長(Long)干(Do/Work)人(People)，
生(Grow)小(Small/Little)不(Not)相(Each Other / Mutually)識(Know)。

長(Long)干(Do/Work): a name of a place, Chang Gan.

A SONG OF CHANGGAN II
Cui Hao

My House is By the Nine River Water,
I Come and Go on the Side of Nine River.
We Both Are Chang Gan People,
But Since Little we never Mutually Knew.
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Tang Poem 300: # 255

玉階怨
李白

玉(Jade)階(Stair)生(Grow)白(White)露(Dew)，
夜(Night)久(Long)侵(Corrode/Erode)羅(Silk)襪(Sole)。
卻(Decline/Lower/Step Back)下(Down)水(Water)晶(Brilliant/Crystal)簾(Curtain)，
玲瓏(Exquisite/Tinkling)望(Look)秋(Autumn)月(Moon)。

水(Water)晶(Brilliant/Crystal): means Crystal.

A SIGH FROM A STAIRCASE OF JADE
Li Bai

On The Jade Stair the White Dew Grew,
such Long Night Corroded my Silk Soles.
So I Lowered Down the Crystal Curtain,
Thru its Exquisite shade I looked at the Autumn Moon
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Tang Poem 300: # 256
塞下曲四首之一
盧綸

鷲(Golden Eagle)翎(Tail Feather)金(Gold)僕姑(Bow)，
燕(Swallow)尾(Tail)繡(Embroider)蝥弧(Banner)。
獨(Alone)立(Stand)揚(Raise/Winnow)新(New)令(Command/Order)，
千(Thousand)營(Tent/Camp)共(Together)一(One)呼(Shout/Call/Cry Out)。


BORDER-SONGS I
Lu Lun

The Tail Feather of the Golden Eagle tied on his Gold Bow,
and his Banner Embroidered a Swallow Tail shape.
Alone He stood and Raised his New Command,
and Thousand Tents Together Shouted as One: HOOAH!
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Tang Poem 300: # 257

塞下曲四首之二
盧綸

林(Forest)暗(Dark)草(Grass)驚(shock/surprise)風(Wind)，
將(General)軍(Army)夜(Night)引(Stretch)弓(Bow)。
平(Even)明(Bright)尋(Search)白(White)羽(Feather/Plume)，
沒(Sink/Disappear)在(Into/At)石(Rock)稜(Crack/Crevice)中(Middle)。

平(Even)明(Bright): means Dawn.

BORDER-SONGS II
Lu Lun

Forest Dark, the Grass were Shocked by Wind,
and the Army General Stretched his Bow.
by Dawn he Searched for the White Plume tail,
the arrow Sunk into the Crevice of Rock.
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Tang Poem 300: # 258
塞下曲四首之三
盧綸

月(Moon)黑(Black)雁(Wild Goose)飛(Fly)高(High)，
單(Chan)于(Yu)夜(Night)遁(escape)逃(Flee)。
欲(Desire)將(Lead)輕(Light)騎(Cavalry)逐(Pursuit/Pursue)，
大(Big)雪(Snow)滿(Fill/Cover)弓(Bow)刀(Saber)。

單(Chan)于(Yu): Rank name of chieftain of northwestern ethnic group of Tang Dynasty China.

BORDER-SONGS III
Lu Lun
Moon was Black and the Wild Gooses Flying High,
Chan Yu under the Night cover to Escape and Flee
We Desired to Lead the Light Cavalry to Pursue,
But Big Snow would Cover our Bows and Sabers.
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Tang Poem 300: # 259

塞下曲四首之四
盧綸

野(Wild/Battle Field)幕(Curtain)蔽(Blanket)瓊(Good)筵(Feast/Banquet)，
羌(Qiang)戎(Rong)賀(Congratulate)勞(Work/Effort)旋(Victory)。
醉(Drunk)和(And)金(Gold)甲(Armor)舞(Dance)，
雷(Thunder)鼓(Drum)動(Move)山(Mountain)川(Stream)。

羌(Qiang)戎(Rong): Two ethnic tribes now near northwest SiChuan province.

BORDER-SONGS IV
Lu Lun

Battle Field Curtains Blanketed our Good Feast,
Qiang Rong Congratulated our Works and Victories.
In Drunkenness and Gold Armor we were Dancing,
and Thundering our Drums to Move the Mountains and Streams.
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Tang Poem 300: # 260

江南曲
李益
嫁(Marry)得(Receive)瞿(Qu)塘(Tang)賈(Merchant/Tradesman)，
朝(Morning)朝(Morning)誤(Miss)妾(I/My)期(Date/Time)。
早(Early)知(Know)潮(Tide)有(Have/Has/Keep)信(Faith/Promise)，
嫁(Marry)與(And/To)弄(Play)潮(Tide)兒(Boy)。

瞿(Qu)塘(Tang): a name of a place.
妾(I/My): female form.
早(Early)知(Know): combination of these two character indicated ‘precognition term or condition, such as ‘If I knew early/I already knew….’

A SONG OF THE SOUTHERN RIVER
Li Yi

I am Married and Received by the Qu Tang Tradesman,
but Morning by Morning he Missed My Time.
I’ve already known that the tide keeps its Promise,
then I should have married to the Boy Playing in tide.

Note:
Poet used the metaphor Woman’s Time and Tide, to express the need of woman from her man, who should live and work according to the schedule of the tide, which is her time, but her current husband misses all the time, and every time.

Qu Tang: a name of a place.
Boy Playing in tide: More like young fisherman that fishes according to tide, when the tide descends he picks the crabs, shrimps, clams, and other delicious stuff such as a lots of Oysters:-)
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Will be continued.