T'ang Poems Translated in a Simplified Classical Form, Part I
CW29:No.36
Yogi C. M. Chen
AT THE TOP OF A HIGH TOWER
by Chen Tzu-Ang
Gaze at the past, there is no sage;
Peer to future, none on the stage.
How mute is the heaven and earth?
With tears, alone, I pass my age!
DARK CLOTHING LANE
by Liu Yu-Sheh
By the red bridge side, many wild green willow,
The sunset has directly shone on the dark lane.
The old rich Wang house has no nest for swallow,
They have to stay in common peoples houses or lane!
WEI-JOU TEMPLE
by Wang-Po
I toured here in the garden thirty years back.
When the New Alter was made, flower open.
Accidentally I now arrive here again,
Tree becomes old, flowers faded, monk no hair black!
THE RIVER
by Lee Yeh
The river washes away all the green spring.
Shu-Dynasty Palace as dust has been !
Tourists dare not to look at the willow,
Wind puffs it--the lament up like a string!
THE SINGER MRS. MO
by Liu Yu Sheh
She seemed to be like Angel from the sky,
She learned the first song of the heaven high!
Please do not sing the prayer song of Tang,
For there is no more official to rely!
PICTURE OF CHIN-LING
by Wei Chong
Who says "Lament can't be drawn out"?
Artists find it in man's mind a lot.
See the South Palace in this picture,
Cold clouds and old trees all are in nought!!
II
Falling on the grass is the small rain.
Six-Dynasty like one dream in vain.
Less emotion is the line of willow,
They are still under the fog like a chain.
YEE CHOU
by Po Chi
I the old fellow, the lament how to bear?
Try my best teach the youth to sing "Yee Chou Song."
Even he succeeds, I have not many years to hear.
Before he learns well,I know my white hair is so long!
TRY TO VISIT THE HERMIT
by Chia Tao
Under the pine I ask the small boy,
He said "Guru has gone to pick herb,
He is in the hills, you may enjoy."
Where is he? The thick clouds seem to disturb!
PARTING MESSAGE
by Tu Mu
It seems loveless, but we were really loving!
However, we could not make a smiling.
The candle seems to have grieved at our parting,
In place of us shed tears till this morning!
CLIMBING LO-YU HILL
by Lee Shang-Yin
This evening my mind seemed not be still,
And so I drove my cart up to old hill!
Infinitely fair is the setting sun,
Nevertheless, the day is almost gone!
SOUTHERN DITTY
by Tsui Hao
"Where is your home? Where do you stay?"
"I live close by the Huang Tang Way."
I stop my boat just to ask him,
"We would be neighbors I may say!"
PASS THE MARSHAL BY FAN-YOUNG HOUSE
by Chou Koo
Outside his door landscape keeps some distance!
He had driven away all the strong Western foes!
Now I pass here and look at the place of dance,
Beside old trees and sunset all things are in loss!
A PARTING DRINK
by Wang Wei
The morning rain in Wei Town seems no end.
Besides the inn only two willows bend!
Please share with me one more cup of wine again,
You know, apart from Yong Kuan, there is no friend!
THE GOLDEN THREADED COAT
by Tu Ching Mang
Covet not the golden threaded coat so long,
But grasp golden years when you are young!
If flowers open you should pluck them,
When it falls, to take might be wrong!
ANTI-WAR
by Chen Tao
In battle who cared of body?
Died in vain, left his lady.
Though bones remain in the stream,
Still a lover in wife's dream !
CROSS THE HAN RIVER
by Lee Pin
Away from home, for news I was longing!
Winter after winter, spring after spring!
Now nearing my village, countrymen meet,
I dare not ask even a single question!
LADY'S GRIEF
by Wong Chang-lin
The young woman does not know sorrow,
Painting her face goes up to tower!
Suddenly she sees the green willow,
Rues sending her lover for power!
YUNG-DEE GRAVE
by Long Ying
In palace sat on throne; outside, carriage!
Each year new willow, each day red story!
Could a king endure to change his royal stage
With only a few miles of cemetery!
PRESENT TO THE SINGER HO TUN
by Liu Yu Sheh
Apart from capital for more than twenty years!
Again I listen to your sweet song with my ears.
Among all my old friends, it is you still alive,
Your best song of Wei-Chen wins too much of my tears!
PASS THE GRAVE OF CHEN-SHIH-WONG
by Hsu Wun
Dragon like hills with many trees.
The destroyed grave could not be free!
On the same autumn grass and mount,
Men only worship Han-Van-Dee!
SOUTH TRAVEL
by Kha Khoon
Sadly I wanted to ask last Dynasty thing.
I saw the river flew away but not come in.
At sunset the wind blows down the grass green,
All birds fly to the altar of the king!
DON'T SHOOT THE WILD GEESE
by Shen Hsun
Don't shoot the wild geese in the air,
When they fly together so fair!
However you have to shoot them,
Please once for all shoot a pair!
COLD RIVER
by Liu Tzung-Yuan
From a thousand mountains the birds have flown,
From a thousand roads human traces are gone!
Just one boat an old man in straw hat and coat,
Fishing nothing the freezing river alone!
SOUTH OF THE RIVER
by Li Yi
I married a business man,
He ate his words so often!
Tide arises at certain time,
Better to love the fish man!
LINE
by Wang Wei
You might know our home-town news,
As you came from our home-town.
Tell me what was your nice view?
Did my winter plum blossom?!
MORNING ON CHIN HUAI RIVER
by Tu Mu
Fog covers waves, moon shines on beach,
Near a small wine-shop our boat reach!
The singers have no grief on loss of state,
They still sing "The flower of palace gate."
MOUNTAIN FAREWELL
by Wang Wei
After on the hill we said "So long!"
I closed bamboo door and sat alone!
I thought of you when next spring the grass,
Turns to new green, you might to me come!
GOODBYE TO SPRING
by Wang Wei
Day by day everyone becomes old.
The Spring will come back also so told!
In a cup of wine, do find your comfort,
"Flowers are falling!"--let them report!
TO A FIREFLY
by Lee Po
Rain can't put out your tiny light,
Wind fans your lamp but makes it bright.
If towards the sky you fly so far,
Besides the moon, you will be a star!
ON WILLOWS
by Liu Yu-Sheh
Yung-dee palace was near River Ping,
A few weathered willows know not Spring!
At sunset wind puffs up the flowers,
Fly into the palace see no being!
A LINE OF SADNESS
by Wang Whun
The night of double-seven we talk old thing.
Either grass or plant all are suffering!
The queen who whispered here now is nothing,
But moon is the same in palace of King!
A SPRING SIGH FOR HER HUSBAND IN THE BATTLE
by Ching Chang Hsu
Drive the Orioles away,
Don't twitter here and stay!
If you wake up my dream,
I might miss my sweet way!
WEEPING FOR MEEN TZEY
by Chang Choh
In this garden we had written our name.
Among our ten friends you were the youngest!
Today a nice Spring, we can't see you the same.
All flowers faded away for her old guest!
WANG CHOU JUEN
by Po Chi
Though there was a sender who could know nothing,
I trust him for redemption beg the king!
If His Majesty asks you "How is her face?"
Please don't say "Unlike she was in palace"!
PLUM FLOWER JETTY
by Chang Hsu
Apart from wild fog, a high bridge hides.
I ask the boatman on the western side,
"The plum flowers flow on the river so long,
Where is the cave, may I beg you to guide"?!
MON-MOUNT
by Shen Chien Chih
In the Northern Mon-Mount there arranged only graves,
It faces to the Long-Yong City for many years.
Bell and songs in the city, day and night, make waves,
But in the Mon-Mount, only the pine voice to hear!
OBSTACLE OF RAIN
by Jung Yu
On the day long rain never ends,
"The way can't pass" message sends!
Tourist can't be free like water
Which always passes my homeland!
NEW YEAR I MEET MY OLD FRIEND
by Nan Wei
Near the lake I met my old good friend again!
Though I'm poor he loved me as much as he can.
Tomorrow he will go, my door will close,
Only bamboos around me--the old man!
ON THE BOAT
by Young Shih Ngo
After rain, the purity of grass and sands remain!
The beautiful Spring covers beach as a white plane.
It is only the cuckoo seems to keep the guest.
Amidst the deep place of plum flowers, there's no man!
THE SOUTHERN VILLAGE
by Teh Whou
Today of last year we all were here.
Flowers and women, all faces were pink!
Now all the flowers show still such cheer,
Where are the women, and how to link?!
PRESENT TO LIN-TZE
by Lu Won
Monk too has interest in Spring!
Should quiet mind without anything?!
Please see in the clear and clean water,
There is the shadow of plant within!
WILLOW
by Ho Chih-Chang
The green jade-like tree has many extensions,
I do not know who is their real possessor.
Many long and fine leaves hang down so nicely,
Spring wind of second month is like their scissor!
SLEEP ON THE SHEN-RIVER
by Jung Yu
In September, river flows slowly.
On beach I welcome Autumn on my boat!
Wind on the water puffs up the leaves gently,
For whole night many fall, cannot note!
RETURN
by Ho Chin Chang
Left home when young, return old.
My hair becomes white being told!
All boys, girls do not know me.
Ask me "What passport you hold?"
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