Tang poetry

Farewell to Mystic Mountain

Huangfu Ran (~ 716-769)
 
 
All day the water flows until it fades, unseen,
At dusk, when grass grows deep in spring and earth recedes—
At times, it’s true, the dogs will bark and chickens squawk,
But who would pull an almond nut from berry seeds?
 
 

Chinese   送鄭二之茅山 皇甫冉   水流絕澗終日 草長深山暮春 犬吠雞鳴幾處

Springtime Sun

Yin Qiqi (~800)
 
 
In times of doubt I sing to spring’s fresh sun
And free the knots tied up within my gut—
Your young man’s left his home and not come back
But winter’s snow will wash the willow’s smut.
 
 

Chinese   陽春曲 殷七七   愁見唱陽春 令人離腸結 郎去未歸家 柳自飄香雪

Pronunciation   Yáng Chūn Qū Yīn Qīqī

Seeing Off Guo Liangfu As He Journeys East

Li Duan (743-782?)
 
I’d offer you advice but nothing comes,
Your carriage quickly heads back east to Qin;
These twilight years you drive a thousand miles—
As sun sets on ten thousand homes in spring.
 
 

Chinese   送郭良輔下第東歸 李端   獻策不得意 馳車東出秦 暮年千裏客 落日萬家春

Pronunciation