Spring, River, Flowers, Moon, Night
Spring river tidal water
running level with the sea
on the sea the bright moon
rising with the tide
rolling tossing
down its waves a million miles
where spring river
do you lack for moonlight
The river flows twists turns
around the scented park lands
moonlight sleeting everywhere
on blooming groves
through the void flowing frost
flies unseen
white sand of the islets
indistinguishable.
River sky one color
without a spot of dust
glittering amid the void
the bright moon's wheel
on these banks what people
first saw the moon
river moon in what year
did you first shine on men.
Life of man age on age
unexhausted
river moon year by year
looking at each other
who knows what person
the moon in the river waits for
all you see the long stream
ushering its waters.
White cloud a single swath
bound far away
maples green upon the bank
unquenched sorrow
Tonight where is the household
of the man in the little boat
What place does she think of
in the moonlit lodge
Piteously above the lodge
the moon wavers wanders
shining back on the lonely one
the make-up mirror-stand
blinds of the jade door
she twists but does not go
wash-pounding on the stone
though brushed away returns
This is the hour to gaze afar
hearing nothing
wishing to follow the moon-glow
to flow—to shine on you
wild geese far flying
cannot go beyond the light
fish dragons churning
the depths ripple the surface
Last night by the idle pool
she dreamt of falling flowers
she grieves for him at mid-spring
who does not come home
river waters wash away
what's left of spring
river pool the falling moon
slanting westward
Slant moon deep deep
in sea-mist hidden
from Jieshi to Xiaoxiang
a boundless road
who knows what people
come home by moonlight
the moonset shakes our feelings
as it fills the river trees.
running level with the sea
on the sea the bright moon
rising with the tide
rolling tossing
down its waves a million miles
where spring river
do you lack for moonlight
The river flows twists turns
around the scented park lands
moonlight sleeting everywhere
on blooming groves
through the void flowing frost
flies unseen
white sand of the islets
indistinguishable.
River sky one color
without a spot of dust
glittering amid the void
the bright moon's wheel
on these banks what people
first saw the moon
river moon in what year
did you first shine on men.
Life of man age on age
unexhausted
river moon year by year
looking at each other
who knows what person
the moon in the river waits for
all you see the long stream
ushering its waters.
White cloud a single swath
bound far away
maples green upon the bank
unquenched sorrow
Tonight where is the household
of the man in the little boat
What place does she think of
in the moonlit lodge
Piteously above the lodge
the moon wavers wanders
shining back on the lonely one
the make-up mirror-stand
blinds of the jade door
she twists but does not go
wash-pounding on the stone
though brushed away returns
This is the hour to gaze afar
hearing nothing
wishing to follow the moon-glow
to flow—to shine on you
wild geese far flying
cannot go beyond the light
fish dragons churning
the depths ripple the surface
Last night by the idle pool
she dreamt of falling flowers
she grieves for him at mid-spring
who does not come home
river waters wash away
what's left of spring
river pool the falling moon
slanting westward
Slant moon deep deep
in sea-mist hidden
from Jieshi to Xiaoxiang
a boundless road
who knows what people
come home by moonlight
the moonset shakes our feelings
as it fills the river trees.
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I registered just to come and
I registered just to come and say awesome, as a Chinese it is very hard for me to find any English translation of Tang poems could be read as your version that each sentence is divided into two rows and when you read it the original 4+3 or 3+4 rhythm is subtly preserved. Another merit of your translation is the way your interpret the rhetoric meaning rather than the literal meaning of the original poem, say the "rolling tossing / down its waves a million miles", such an epic translation! You have really respected the original version while also greatly transferred the original trope and the rhyme. The rhyme of rolling tossing just fit with the original Yan Yan (滟滟) , and the millions of miles transferred the original sense of vastness and infinity of the ocean, as in Chinese ancient literature the original Qian Li (千里) is already regarded far enough to reach and think of, but for modern readers only when we think about millions of miles that we can grasp the poet's original intention. In a word you have did a fantastic job and I really enjoyed reading your translation, its like a new creation based on the original scrip, I sincerely hope you could translate more great Tang poems and maintain the same outstanding standard. Best wishes.
Chinese Poem Lover
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