Ode to Eagle
By Laijon Liu 20091010
-O1-
Who are you, my love, soaring so high!
The god of all birds, a king of azure sky
On the precipitous cliff you make home
Off the lofty peak you leap a great dive
You call up the morning sun to ascend
And escort the moon where she roams
Earth revolves under your mighty talons
And heaven is for your wings to mete
-O2-
A pair firm claws, steel dagger sharp
Where your enemies find no escape
Above the vast land or the roaring sea
All livings are under your decree
Your eyes are made of pure gold
To see through the hour of dark night
Who dares to stare at the glorious sun?
And catch the true splendor of light!
-O3-
Upon the high rock you pick your nest
Above the deep sea you set window-view
And facing the cold winds you make love
There you raise young, hatch a brave heart
All worlds look up and envy your spot
But they never know how much you sacrifice
Your title and fame must cost so much
Upon that rocky cliff, in the gushing winds
-O4-
Lonesome and pride is the way of your life
It’s against your deity to group with a flock
No one dares to dictate your hour of flight
And no peak or valley is out of your reach
Toward the sun you stare and rise head on
And into the wintry wave you make a splash
White clouds are for your wings to smash
Rain and snow are your showers and bath
-O5-
Nature has preordained your tragic fate
Struggling since birth, fighting to become
Where your infant bed is a wrestling court
And then your test flight is a deadly dive
Yet you raise your hooked beak proudly
Stretch your broad wings measuring winds
Hop your muscular legs for a great leap
To aim the sun and answer the storm
-O6-
How calm you are, driving the winds above
Rise and fall freely, soar and turn with ease
Where in the sky you find dragon is a myth
And shadow of phoenix disappeared in sun
The idols on earth all become fairytale news
Only your wings and spirit are true examples
Death and fear can never conquer you in life
Dream and desires are all possible to reach
-O7-
Oh my great Bird, a miracle you pursue!
You’re hatched on cliff and born of storm
Sun above you and earth down below
Sky your lodge and death is like a home
In the gushing winds you howl battle cry
Into the cold waves you toy snowflake
Through the challenges you grow strong
And in turmoil and crisis you obtain peace
-O8-
Who is the maker of your striking shape?
Who gifted you a pair golden pupil
For the far vision and detail view?
Who gave you a pair brave wings
To set your faith fly and courage to dive?
Who made your nest on high cliff?
Who drove the winds and storms
And the red sun over the blue sea?
***Who made you, so great?***
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
500-Character Poem A Reflection on the Road from Capital to Feng Xian Town by Du Fu
500-Character Poem A Reflection on the Road from Capital to Feng Xian Town
By Du Fu (712-770)
Translated by Laijon Liu 20091107
I am a common man of my hometown,
Now old, but more determined.
With a silly wish I held myself
To be a good servant in Emperor’s court.
Still never been received,
Yet I wrought with my gray hair.
Till my coffin closes, then all affair stop,
And I believed myself always,
That one day I should achieve.
All the years I worried about people,
With all my sighs and my heart burnt.
All my classmates laughed at me,
But I even strove more with singing.
I wanted to travel between rivers and seas,
Take leisure of sunshine and moonlight.
But I believe our emperor is graceful,
So I couldn’t let go this good chance.
Yes, there are talents filled today’s court,
We aren’t lack of pillars for our mansion.
Yet, the sunflower always beholds the sun,
And we can’t take away his natural character.
I don’t want to be like ants and worms,
Only care myself and the dwelling hole.
Nor I admire the great fish in the sea,
Liberally swims and makes his splash.
Because I’ve obtained my living purpose,
Is to strive for the best with what I have.
So with uprightness I worked alone to now,
Enduring all the hardship like dust in wind.
And now I’m a little embarrassed of myself
Comparing to those hermits in ancient time.
So I drink more to bring me some joy,
And sing aloud to shout away my sorrow.
My years liked setting sun, withered grass,
And strong wind above the hilltop gushing.
Gloomy sky with turmoil clouds those days,
I, a sojourner, got on my road in midnight.
Cold misty frosts, even my jacket string broke,
And my fingers I could not feel or bend.
By morning I arrived at the Li Mountains,
The emperor’s palace was above those hills.
The north winds blew the cold blue sky,
Each stair was slippery on cliff or in valley.
Yet I could still see the steam of hot spring,
Rising from the spears of countless guards.
Emperor and his officials were partying there,
Symphony of their musicians loudly echoing.
All the high ranking royals bathed together,
And their feast no lowly officers allowed to join.
The silk of our court all made by common maids,
And the collectors whipping their family to gather.
Ancient kings only gifted their official baskets,
So their people would not be too stressed.
If the officials really understood such concept,
Then why our emperor still gave away silk?
Oh, too many those people filled our court,
Even a righteous person feared to step in!
Not to mention the treasure of the court
All stocked in the royal family’s house.
The beautiful ladies in their palace, like goddess,
Burning incense all hours for their cream skin.
Marten coats for their guests to keep warm,
And with their instrument they sing a sad song.
Their guests enjoy the exotic cuisine,
And orange and fruit served fresh with frost.
Within their red mansion walls, meat stored to rot;
Outside on their sidewalk, bony men froze to death.
Luxury neighboring the withered so close,
Yet so different; oh, my heart wanes, I can’t express!
As I got on a carriage, heading to Wei and Jing River,
By the checkpoint they made us turn to another road.
All the rivers rushing from the western mountains,
Their source looked like from Kong Dong peaks.
For a moment, I thought the pillar of sky was falling.
It’s fortunate the bridge above the river was not broken,
She bore our carriage with cracking sound.
So we helped each other, carrying our own luggage
And walked across the bridge, over that rushing river.
My wife waited for me in Feng Xian town,
My nine children and I been cut off by storm.
What husband on earth would abandon his family
for such long period of time?
And I must rush to be with them
Together we in hunger and thirst.
And by my door I heard the wailing voice,
My youngest son died of hunger.
Even if I did refrain myself not to howl,
Still my neighbors couldn’t stop their sob.
How could I be a dad, being so poor!
That couldn’t bring back food to feed my son!
And I never knew that in autumn time,
A reaping season, poor people starved to death!
I hold a lowly position in government,
By law I’m tax exempt and no draft for war.
Now I reflect all my past matters I feel sad,
And common people even bear much more.
Those who lost their family and their house,
And faraway our soldiers in the battlefield,
Then my sorrow weighing over my heart
Like a mountain, or a flood immersing.
End
Poem Note:
People ask me what is one example of talented poets, Li Bai; but there are great poets, like Du Fu, who loved his people, his family, his wife, children, and his work and his poem. This is the best poem of Du Fu I personally praise, surely shown he was a follower of Confucius, he put all his wish and struggle for people. So every Chinese and poets respected him. A poet is emotional, always, he is sensitive to things, even to a dead leaf, or a blink of star, or to everything, so whatever a poet cannot stop writing is how he feels about things that pulls his heart string, but not every poet has a feeling for everything or everyone, even though he forges with his black art he learns from his bookshelf, a reader can discover thru his verses about something that not authentic. But this poem Du Fu has a great heart, and real feeling, a truthful friend for every reader, and all his poems so great with heart.
I don’t think there is any English translation for this poem yet.
Chinese Character and English Word Translate and Notes:
The following format is each line, one verse, 5 Chinese characters; second line notes
自京赴奉先县咏怀五百字
唐 杜甫
杜Du 陵mountain 有has 布fabric 衣cloth，
Note: 杜Du陵mountain: a place where the tomb of Han Dynasty Emperor, Du Fu’s birth place.
老(old)大(adult/big)意(will)转(turn)拙(clumsy/dull)。
Note: As I get old even more stubborn
许allow身body一one何why愚foolish，
Note: Allow myself to be such foolish
窃privately比compare稷与and契。
Note: 稷与and契: names of officials of two graceful Emperors in Ancient time
居然actually成become濩?落fall，
Note: 濩?: Archaic character, something related to water that spilled out
白white首head甘willingly契agree阔broad。
Note: With gray hair willingly submit to work for every thing
盖cover棺coffin事affair则follow已end，
此this志will常often觊clear豁break。
穷poor年year忧worry黎元people world，
叹息groan肠intestines内inside热hot。
Note: Ancient Chinese believe emotion from belly
取笑jest同学schoolfellow翁old man，
浩grand歌song弥fill激烈passion。
非无not because I don’t have江river海sea志will，
萧洒natural and unrestrained送accompany日sun月moon。
生life逢meet尧舜君emperor，
Note: 尧舜: two most graceful emperors
不not忍bear便so永forever诀farewell。
当今today廊庙emperor court具instrument，
构construct厦building岂no云say缺lack。
葵藿sunflower倾lean/face太great阳sun，
物matter性character固hard莫no夺seize。
顾care惟alone蝼worm蚁ant辈the like，
但only自self求beg其its/their穴dwelling hole。
胡为why慕admire大great鲸whale，
辄always拟draft偃cease溟渤sea waves。
以according to兹now悟realize生life理reason，
独only耻shame事affair干dry谒call on。
兀兀stand upright遂then至to 今now，
忍endure为become尘埃dust没gone。
终eventually愧ashamed巢与and由，
Note: 巢与and由: two ancient hermits
未能cannot易change其their节joint of bone。
Note: someone don’t bend his bone, kneel down
沈deep饮drink聊merely自self适well，
放expend歌song颇quite愁sorrow绝end。
岁year暮sunset百hundreds草grass零wither，
疾风high wind高high冈ridge裂break。
天heaven衢thoroughfare阴gloom峥嵘lofty and steep，
客guest子son中mid夜night发start。
霜frost严severe衣cloth带belt断break，
指finger直straight不no得can结bend/join。
凌晨wee hours过pass骊Li山mountain，
御Imperial榻couch在at嵽嵲rainbow。
蚩尤especially塞fill寒cold空air/sky，
蹴蹋foot stepping崖cliff谷valley滑slippery。
瑶池Yao pool气air/steam郁gloomy律climate，
note: Yao pool, from Chinese myth, that located at Sky Mountain, where the empress of heaven party.
羽林Emperor’s guard相each other摩stand up戛spear。
君Emperor臣official留stay欢happy娱entertain，
乐music动move殷ardent樛trees bend downward嶱。
嶱: archaic, maybe something related to mountain that shake
赐gift浴bath皆all长long缨tassel，
long tassel: only High rank official wear long tassel
与attend宴feast非no短short褐jacket。
Short jacket: local officials wear
彤red庭court所that分distribute帛silk，
本root自from寒cold女woman出out。
Cold house woman: only rich women could afford enough wood to make their chamber hot in winter, as my personal experience, all women like hot not cold:)
鞭whip挞beat其their夫husband家family，
聚gather敛collect贡tribute城city阙wall。
圣holy人man筐篚basket恩grace，
holy man: indicates those graceful ancient emperor
实actually欲desire邦state国nation活live。
臣official如if忽understand至such理concept，
君emperor岂why弃give up此this物stuff。
多many士men盈fill朝廷court，
仁benevolence者person宜should战栗tremble。
况besides闻hear内inside金gold盘plates，
gold plate: emperor use for decoration
尽all在in卫霍Wei Huo室house。
Wei Huo, indicates the concubine’s family
中mid堂hall舞dance神仙goddess，
烟smoke雾mist散spread玉cream质skin。
暖warm客guest貂鼠marten裘animal coat，
悲sad管pipe逐chase清clear瑟se。
se: an instrument
劝persuade客guest驼camel蹄hoof羹soup，
soup or food material that carried by camel pass the silk road from west
霜frost橙orange压cover香fragrant橘fruit like orange。
朱red门gate酒wine肉meat臭rot，
路roads有have冻frozen死died骨bone。
荣prosper枯wither咫few尺feet异different，
惆怅melancholy难difficult再continue述narrate。
Continue later
北辕就泾渭，
官渡又改辙。
群冰从西下，
极目高崒兀。
疑是崆峒来，
恐触天柱折。
河梁幸未坼，
枝撑声窸窣。
行旅相攀援，
川广不可越。
老妻寄异县，
十口隔风雪。
谁能久不顾，
庶往共饥渴。
入门闻号咷，
幼子饥已卒。
吾宁舍一哀，
里巷亦呜咽。
所愧为人父，
无食致夭折。
岂知秋未登，
贫窭有仓卒。
生常免租税，
名不隶征伐。
抚迹犹酸辛，
平人固骚屑。
默思失业徒，
因念远戍卒。
忧端齐终南，
澒洞不可掇。
End
Chinese:
自京赴奉先县咏怀五百字
唐 杜甫
杜陵有布衣，老大意转拙。
许身一何愚，窃比稷与契。
居然成濩落，白首甘契阔。
盖棺事则已，此志常觊豁。
穷年忧黎元，叹息肠内热。
取笑同学翁，浩歌弥激烈。
非无江海志，萧洒送日月。
生逢尧舜君，不忍便永诀。
当今廊庙具，构厦岂云缺。
葵藿倾太阳，物性固莫夺。
顾惟蝼蚁辈，但自求其穴。
胡为慕大鲸，辄拟偃溟渤。
以兹悟生理，独耻事干谒。
兀兀遂至今，忍为尘埃没。
终愧巢与由，未能易其节。
沈饮聊自适，放歌颇愁绝。
岁暮百草零，疾风高冈裂。
天衢阴峥嵘，客子中夜发。
霜严衣带断，指直不得结。
凌晨过骊山，御榻在嵽嵲。
蚩尤塞寒空，蹴蹋崖谷滑。
瑶池气郁律，羽林相摩戛。
君臣留欢娱，乐动殷樛嶱。
赐浴皆长缨，与宴非短褐。
彤庭所分帛，本自寒女出。
鞭挞其夫家，聚敛贡城阙。
圣人筐篚恩，实欲邦国活。
臣如忽至理，君岂弃此物。
多士盈朝廷，仁者宜战栗。
况闻内金盘，尽在卫霍室。
中堂舞神仙，烟雾散玉质。
暖客貂鼠裘，悲管逐清瑟。
劝客驼蹄羹，霜橙压香橘。
朱门酒肉臭，路有冻死骨。
荣枯咫尺异，惆怅难再述。
北辕就泾渭，官渡又改辙。
群冰从西下，极目高崒兀。
疑是崆峒来，恐触天柱折。
河梁幸未坼，枝撑声窸窣。
行旅相攀援，川广不可越。
老妻寄异县，十口隔风雪。
谁能久不顾，庶往共饥渴。
入门闻号咷，幼子饥已卒。
吾宁舍一哀，里巷亦呜咽。
所愧为人父，无食致夭折。
岂知秋未登，贫窭有仓卒。
生常免租税，名不隶征伐。
抚迹犹酸辛，平人固骚屑。
默思失业徒，因念远戍卒。
忧端齐终南，澒洞不可掇。
End
By Du Fu (712-770)
Translated by Laijon Liu 20091107
I am a common man of my hometown,
Now old, but more determined.
With a silly wish I held myself
To be a good servant in Emperor’s court.
Still never been received,
Yet I wrought with my gray hair.
Till my coffin closes, then all affair stop,
And I believed myself always,
That one day I should achieve.
All the years I worried about people,
With all my sighs and my heart burnt.
All my classmates laughed at me,
But I even strove more with singing.
I wanted to travel between rivers and seas,
Take leisure of sunshine and moonlight.
But I believe our emperor is graceful,
So I couldn’t let go this good chance.
Yes, there are talents filled today’s court,
We aren’t lack of pillars for our mansion.
Yet, the sunflower always beholds the sun,
And we can’t take away his natural character.
I don’t want to be like ants and worms,
Only care myself and the dwelling hole.
Nor I admire the great fish in the sea,
Liberally swims and makes his splash.
Because I’ve obtained my living purpose,
Is to strive for the best with what I have.
So with uprightness I worked alone to now,
Enduring all the hardship like dust in wind.
And now I’m a little embarrassed of myself
Comparing to those hermits in ancient time.
So I drink more to bring me some joy,
And sing aloud to shout away my sorrow.
My years liked setting sun, withered grass,
And strong wind above the hilltop gushing.
Gloomy sky with turmoil clouds those days,
I, a sojourner, got on my road in midnight.
Cold misty frosts, even my jacket string broke,
And my fingers I could not feel or bend.
By morning I arrived at the Li Mountains,
The emperor’s palace was above those hills.
The north winds blew the cold blue sky,
Each stair was slippery on cliff or in valley.
Yet I could still see the steam of hot spring,
Rising from the spears of countless guards.
Emperor and his officials were partying there,
Symphony of their musicians loudly echoing.
All the high ranking royals bathed together,
And their feast no lowly officers allowed to join.
The silk of our court all made by common maids,
And the collectors whipping their family to gather.
Ancient kings only gifted their official baskets,
So their people would not be too stressed.
If the officials really understood such concept,
Then why our emperor still gave away silk?
Oh, too many those people filled our court,
Even a righteous person feared to step in!
Not to mention the treasure of the court
All stocked in the royal family’s house.
The beautiful ladies in their palace, like goddess,
Burning incense all hours for their cream skin.
Marten coats for their guests to keep warm,
And with their instrument they sing a sad song.
Their guests enjoy the exotic cuisine,
And orange and fruit served fresh with frost.
Within their red mansion walls, meat stored to rot;
Outside on their sidewalk, bony men froze to death.
Luxury neighboring the withered so close,
Yet so different; oh, my heart wanes, I can’t express!
As I got on a carriage, heading to Wei and Jing River,
By the checkpoint they made us turn to another road.
All the rivers rushing from the western mountains,
Their source looked like from Kong Dong peaks.
For a moment, I thought the pillar of sky was falling.
It’s fortunate the bridge above the river was not broken,
She bore our carriage with cracking sound.
So we helped each other, carrying our own luggage
And walked across the bridge, over that rushing river.
My wife waited for me in Feng Xian town,
My nine children and I been cut off by storm.
What husband on earth would abandon his family
for such long period of time?
And I must rush to be with them
Together we in hunger and thirst.
And by my door I heard the wailing voice,
My youngest son died of hunger.
Even if I did refrain myself not to howl,
Still my neighbors couldn’t stop their sob.
How could I be a dad, being so poor!
That couldn’t bring back food to feed my son!
And I never knew that in autumn time,
A reaping season, poor people starved to death!
I hold a lowly position in government,
By law I’m tax exempt and no draft for war.
Now I reflect all my past matters I feel sad,
And common people even bear much more.
Those who lost their family and their house,
And faraway our soldiers in the battlefield,
Then my sorrow weighing over my heart
Like a mountain, or a flood immersing.
End
Poem Note:
People ask me what is one example of talented poets, Li Bai; but there are great poets, like Du Fu, who loved his people, his family, his wife, children, and his work and his poem. This is the best poem of Du Fu I personally praise, surely shown he was a follower of Confucius, he put all his wish and struggle for people. So every Chinese and poets respected him. A poet is emotional, always, he is sensitive to things, even to a dead leaf, or a blink of star, or to everything, so whatever a poet cannot stop writing is how he feels about things that pulls his heart string, but not every poet has a feeling for everything or everyone, even though he forges with his black art he learns from his bookshelf, a reader can discover thru his verses about something that not authentic. But this poem Du Fu has a great heart, and real feeling, a truthful friend for every reader, and all his poems so great with heart.
I don’t think there is any English translation for this poem yet.
Chinese Character and English Word Translate and Notes:
The following format is each line, one verse, 5 Chinese characters; second line notes
自京赴奉先县咏怀五百字
唐 杜甫
杜Du 陵mountain 有has 布fabric 衣cloth，
Note: 杜Du陵mountain: a place where the tomb of Han Dynasty Emperor, Du Fu’s birth place.
老(old)大(adult/big)意(will)转(turn)拙(clumsy/dull)。
Note: As I get old even more stubborn
许allow身body一one何why愚foolish，
Note: Allow myself to be such foolish
窃privately比compare稷与and契。
Note: 稷与and契: names of officials of two graceful Emperors in Ancient time
居然actually成become濩?落fall，
Note: 濩?: Archaic character, something related to water that spilled out
白white首head甘willingly契agree阔broad。
Note: With gray hair willingly submit to work for every thing
盖cover棺coffin事affair则follow已end，
此this志will常often觊clear豁break。
穷poor年year忧worry黎元people world，
叹息groan肠intestines内inside热hot。
Note: Ancient Chinese believe emotion from belly
取笑jest同学schoolfellow翁old man，
浩grand歌song弥fill激烈passion。
非无not because I don’t have江river海sea志will，
萧洒natural and unrestrained送accompany日sun月moon。
生life逢meet尧舜君emperor，
Note: 尧舜: two most graceful emperors
不not忍bear便so永forever诀farewell。
当今today廊庙emperor court具instrument，
构construct厦building岂no云say缺lack。
葵藿sunflower倾lean/face太great阳sun，
物matter性character固hard莫no夺seize。
顾care惟alone蝼worm蚁ant辈the like，
但only自self求beg其its/their穴dwelling hole。
胡为why慕admire大great鲸whale，
辄always拟draft偃cease溟渤sea waves。
以according to兹now悟realize生life理reason，
独only耻shame事affair干dry谒call on。
兀兀stand upright遂then至to 今now，
忍endure为become尘埃dust没gone。
终eventually愧ashamed巢与and由，
Note: 巢与and由: two ancient hermits
未能cannot易change其their节joint of bone。
Note: someone don’t bend his bone, kneel down
沈deep饮drink聊merely自self适well，
放expend歌song颇quite愁sorrow绝end。
岁year暮sunset百hundreds草grass零wither，
疾风high wind高high冈ridge裂break。
天heaven衢thoroughfare阴gloom峥嵘lofty and steep，
客guest子son中mid夜night发start。
霜frost严severe衣cloth带belt断break，
指finger直straight不no得can结bend/join。
凌晨wee hours过pass骊Li山mountain，
御Imperial榻couch在at嵽嵲rainbow。
蚩尤especially塞fill寒cold空air/sky，
蹴蹋foot stepping崖cliff谷valley滑slippery。
瑶池Yao pool气air/steam郁gloomy律climate，
note: Yao pool, from Chinese myth, that located at Sky Mountain, where the empress of heaven party.
羽林Emperor’s guard相each other摩stand up戛spear。
君Emperor臣official留stay欢happy娱entertain，
乐music动move殷ardent樛trees bend downward嶱。
嶱: archaic, maybe something related to mountain that shake
赐gift浴bath皆all长long缨tassel，
long tassel: only High rank official wear long tassel
与attend宴feast非no短short褐jacket。
Short jacket: local officials wear
彤red庭court所that分distribute帛silk，
本root自from寒cold女woman出out。
Cold house woman: only rich women could afford enough wood to make their chamber hot in winter, as my personal experience, all women like hot not cold:)
鞭whip挞beat其their夫husband家family，
聚gather敛collect贡tribute城city阙wall。
圣holy人man筐篚basket恩grace，
holy man: indicates those graceful ancient emperor
实actually欲desire邦state国nation活live。
臣official如if忽understand至such理concept，
君emperor岂why弃give up此this物stuff。
多many士men盈fill朝廷court，
仁benevolence者person宜should战栗tremble。
况besides闻hear内inside金gold盘plates，
gold plate: emperor use for decoration
尽all在in卫霍Wei Huo室house。
Wei Huo, indicates the concubine’s family
中mid堂hall舞dance神仙goddess，
烟smoke雾mist散spread玉cream质skin。
暖warm客guest貂鼠marten裘animal coat，
悲sad管pipe逐chase清clear瑟se。
se: an instrument
劝persuade客guest驼camel蹄hoof羹soup，
soup or food material that carried by camel pass the silk road from west
霜frost橙orange压cover香fragrant橘fruit like orange。
朱red门gate酒wine肉meat臭rot，
路roads有have冻frozen死died骨bone。
荣prosper枯wither咫few尺feet异different，
惆怅melancholy难difficult再continue述narrate。
Continue later
北辕就泾渭，
官渡又改辙。
群冰从西下，
极目高崒兀。
疑是崆峒来，
恐触天柱折。
河梁幸未坼，
枝撑声窸窣。
行旅相攀援，
川广不可越。
老妻寄异县，
十口隔风雪。
谁能久不顾，
庶往共饥渴。
入门闻号咷，
幼子饥已卒。
吾宁舍一哀，
里巷亦呜咽。
所愧为人父，
无食致夭折。
岂知秋未登，
贫窭有仓卒。
生常免租税，
名不隶征伐。
抚迹犹酸辛，
平人固骚屑。
默思失业徒，
因念远戍卒。
忧端齐终南，
澒洞不可掇。
End
Chinese:
自京赴奉先县咏怀五百字
唐 杜甫
杜陵有布衣，老大意转拙。
许身一何愚，窃比稷与契。
居然成濩落，白首甘契阔。
盖棺事则已，此志常觊豁。
穷年忧黎元，叹息肠内热。
取笑同学翁，浩歌弥激烈。
非无江海志，萧洒送日月。
生逢尧舜君，不忍便永诀。
当今廊庙具，构厦岂云缺。
葵藿倾太阳，物性固莫夺。
顾惟蝼蚁辈，但自求其穴。
胡为慕大鲸，辄拟偃溟渤。
以兹悟生理，独耻事干谒。
兀兀遂至今，忍为尘埃没。
终愧巢与由，未能易其节。
沈饮聊自适，放歌颇愁绝。
岁暮百草零，疾风高冈裂。
天衢阴峥嵘，客子中夜发。
霜严衣带断，指直不得结。
凌晨过骊山，御榻在嵽嵲。
蚩尤塞寒空，蹴蹋崖谷滑。
瑶池气郁律，羽林相摩戛。
君臣留欢娱，乐动殷樛嶱。
赐浴皆长缨，与宴非短褐。
彤庭所分帛，本自寒女出。
鞭挞其夫家，聚敛贡城阙。
圣人筐篚恩，实欲邦国活。
臣如忽至理，君岂弃此物。
多士盈朝廷，仁者宜战栗。
况闻内金盘，尽在卫霍室。
中堂舞神仙，烟雾散玉质。
暖客貂鼠裘，悲管逐清瑟。
劝客驼蹄羹，霜橙压香橘。
朱门酒肉臭，路有冻死骨。
荣枯咫尺异，惆怅难再述。
北辕就泾渭，官渡又改辙。
群冰从西下，极目高崒兀。
疑是崆峒来，恐触天柱折。
河梁幸未坼，枝撑声窸窣。
行旅相攀援，川广不可越。
老妻寄异县，十口隔风雪。
谁能久不顾，庶往共饥渴。
入门闻号咷，幼子饥已卒。
吾宁舍一哀，里巷亦呜咽。
所愧为人父，无食致夭折。
岂知秋未登，贫窭有仓卒。
生常免租税，名不隶征伐。
抚迹犹酸辛，平人固骚屑。
默思失业徒，因念远戍卒。
忧端齐终南，澒洞不可掇。
End
Monday, November 2, 2009
Yong Yu Yue (Forever Meet Melody)
Yong Yu Yue (Forever Meet Melody)
By Li Qingzhao (1084-1155)
Translate by Laijon Liu 20091103
Setting sun like melting gold
Rosy clouds blanketing the blue sky
Where is the one in my thought?
Willows painted green
Smoke rising from every house
I played the plum melody non stop
But the spring understood me not!
Ah, January Fifteenth again
Night lanterns all lighted
Weather mild and warm
But how can we be sure
There won’t be sudden rains and wind?
My friends came and greeted
Riding in beautiful wagons
To their drink feast and poetry club
But I declined their invite
Oh, I still remembered the holidays
In our state of the good old days
So many, I skipped
Yet only prepared for this Lantern Day
The emerald pendant on my hat
Gold twist and silver trim jacket
And all the colorful strap and belts
But now, with my haggardness,
And this wind blown foggy hair,
How could I go out at this night?
It would be better for me
To just sit under the blind
And hear other’s laughter and chat.
Note:
Some say this poem was composed when the poet’s husband lay in sickness in other state.
Chinese:
永遇乐
李清照
落日熔金，
暮云合璧，
人在何处？
染柳烟浓，
吹梅笛怨，
春意知几许？
元宵佳节，
融和天气，
次第岂无风雨？
来相召，
香车宝马，
谢他酒朋诗侣。
中州盛日，
闺门多暇，
记得偏重三五。
铺翠冠儿、
捻金雪柳，
簇带争济楚。
如今憔悴，
风鬟雾鬓，
怕见夜间出去。
不如向，
帘儿底下，
听人笑语。
By Li Qingzhao (1084-1155)
Translate by Laijon Liu 20091103
Setting sun like melting gold
Rosy clouds blanketing the blue sky
Where is the one in my thought?
Willows painted green
Smoke rising from every house
I played the plum melody non stop
But the spring understood me not!
Ah, January Fifteenth again
Night lanterns all lighted
Weather mild and warm
But how can we be sure
There won’t be sudden rains and wind?
My friends came and greeted
Riding in beautiful wagons
To their drink feast and poetry club
But I declined their invite
Oh, I still remembered the holidays
In our state of the good old days
So many, I skipped
Yet only prepared for this Lantern Day
The emerald pendant on my hat
Gold twist and silver trim jacket
And all the colorful strap and belts
But now, with my haggardness,
And this wind blown foggy hair,
How could I go out at this night?
It would be better for me
To just sit under the blind
And hear other’s laughter and chat.
Note:
Some say this poem was composed when the poet’s husband lay in sickness in other state.
Chinese:
永遇乐
李清照
落日熔金，
暮云合璧，
人在何处？
染柳烟浓，
吹梅笛怨，
春意知几许？
元宵佳节，
融和天气，
次第岂无风雨？
来相召，
香车宝马，
谢他酒朋诗侣。
中州盛日，
闺门多暇，
记得偏重三五。
铺翠冠儿、
捻金雪柳，
簇带争济楚。
如今憔悴，
风鬟雾鬓，
怕见夜间出去。
不如向，
帘儿底下，
听人笑语。
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