Here at the frontier, the leaves fall like rain. Although my neighbors are all barbarians, and you, you are a thousand miles away, there are still two cups at my table.


Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.

~ Wu-men ~


Monday, August 25, 2008

300 Tang Dynasty Poems: #28 Setting Sail ...


One of the great works of Chinese literature, of World literature, is the famous anthology, the 300 Tang Dynasty Poems. The Tang dynasty was a golden age of culture in ancient China. Poetry was especially esteemed. There was never an occasion too small that it didn't deserve a poem.

If you click on the title of this post, you'll be directed to an online version of the 300 Tang Dynasty Poems. Below is #28. Enjoy.


Five-character-ancient-verse
Wei Yingwu
SETTING SAIL ON THE YANGZI
TO SECRETARY YUAN

Wistful, away from my friends and kin,
Through mist and fog I float and float
With the sail that bears me toward Loyang.
In Yangzhou trees linger bell-notes of evening,
Marking the day and the place of our parting....
When shall we meet again and where?
...Destiny is a boat on the waves,
Borne to and fro, beyond our will.

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