Meng Haoran

Parting From Wang Wei
.
Quietly, I've waited here so long,
Day after day; but now I must return.
Now I go to seek the fragrant grass,
But I grieve to part from my old friend.
Who is there who would help me on the road?
Understanding friends are few in life.
I should just observe my solitude,
And close again the gate of my old home.

Mei Yaochen

Mourning Loss
.
When we two first became husband and wife
Was seventeen years ago today.
We couldn't look at each other enough,
What loss could compare to this?
Already, my temples are mostly white,
I'd rather my body had finished its time.
In the end, we'll share a tomb;
Still not dead, I weep and weep.

Du Fu (712-770)

At Dreadloch Gorge, Meditating On Antiquity
Dù Fǔ

As the southwest's myriad straths outpour,
Even mighty foes--paired cliffs--divide.
The earth from its mountain roots severed;
The Jiang from its Moon Grottoes arrived.
Pared to a fit, facing White Lord;
Curved in a void, hiding Sun Terrace.
Tho' His Deed of dredging & boring was fair,
The power of the Potter's Wheel is immense!

Su Shi (1036-1101)

Awaking on a Boat at Night
.
Su Shi
.
A light breeze soughs quietly,
blowing river grasses.
I open the hatch expecting rain;
moonlight fills the lake.
Boatman and river birds
share the same dream;
A large fish suddenly jumps
and dives like a darting fox.
Late at night people and creatures
are oblivious of each other,
While in my case alone, form and shadow
delight each other.
The dark tide appears at the bank,
pity the cold crawlers,
The setting moon hangs in the willow,
see the spider suspended.
In this hurried life,
spent amid worries and troubles,
Pure scenes pass before the eyes--
how long can they last?
Cocks crow, bells sound,
flocks of birds take flight.
Drums beat on the bow,
shout answers shout.

Sima Guang (1019-1086)

Away From Home In Early Spring
Sima Guang 1019-1086

April days fickle
clear.... rain...
then fine again,
Before my door South Mountain juts starkly,
Willow catkins no longer bob in the wind,
And sunflowers need to face the sun.

Mei Yaochen

A Rural Home

The cock crows three times; the sky is almost light.
Someone's lined up bowls of rice, along with flasks of tea.
Anxiously, the peasants rush to start the ploughing early,
I pull aside the willow shutter and gaze at the morning stars.

Rabgya Basang

"Mother"
.
When I was still a child at the breast,


I never thought of molding clay figures, or playing hide-and-seek,


Nor of the sky and earth,


But I had a vague impression:


“There is nothing in the world


As sweet as my motherland’s embrace.”


From the remote border region,


I crossed the Yangtze and Yellow rivers:


Though I haven’t been to the Changbai Mountains,


I whisper to myself in my heart:


“There is nothing in the world


As sweet as my motherland’s embrace.”

Li Yu

A Heavenly Woman's Imprisoned in the Palace (Buddhist Dancers)
Li Yu

.
A heavenly woman's imprisoned in the palace at Penglai Hill,
All are silent as she sleeps by day in the painted hall.
Her glossy hair is spread like cloud on the pillow,
Her embroidered clothes bear a wondrous fragrance.
I secretly come and slide the pearl lock back,
She's startled from her dream behind the silver screen.
Her smiling face is overflowing with bliss,
We gaze at each other with unbounded love.

Yang Wanli (1124-1206)

At Jingci Temple Seeing Off Lin Zifang at Dawn
Yang Wanli 1124-1206

Finally West Lake in the month of July
The scene isn't like any other time of year
Sky-high lotus leaves are an endless blue-green
And their sunlit flowers are a different kind of red