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)。
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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.
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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
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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?
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
