Archive for the 'Li Bai' Category

Li Bai — Longing, in springtime

6 April 2008

Longing, in springtime

Li Bai

701-762 CE
(translated by William P. Coleman)

The northern grasses are just bright green threads;
but on eastern mulberries, green branches hang down.

Days when the lord is first eager to come back —
those are a wife’s heartbreak times. 

The wind of desire and I no longer know each other;
what right has he to enter my silk gauze curtains? 

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Li Bai — In the mountains, a question and an answer

5 April 2008

In the mountains, a question and an answer

Li Bai

701-762 CE
(translated by William P. Coleman)

You ask me what my idea is, staying in the green mountains?
I smile but have no reply, my heart at peace in itself. 

A peach blossom on the flowing water goes into the distance;
there is another heaven and earth, not among people. 

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Li Bai — Amusing myself

4 April 2008

Amusing myself

Li Bai

701-762 CE
(translated by William P. Coleman)

Preoccupied with the wine, I didn’t notice it get dark;
fallen flowers have covered my clothes.

Drunk, I stand up, and I walk to the moon stream;
the birds have gone home — and people are scarce too.

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Li Bai — Seeing off Meng Haoran at Yellow Crane Tower on his way to Guangling

19 March 2008

Seeing off Meng Haoran at Yellow Crane Tower on his way to Guangling

Li Bai

701-762 CE
(translated by William P. Coleman)

My friend said goodbye leaving the west from Yellow Crane Tower.
In the patterned mist of the third month, he goes down to Yangzhou.

His lone sail is an image far on the limit of jade green air.
I sense only the Long River’s flow, interfacing sky.

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Li Bai — A present for Meng Haoran

18 March 2008

A present for Meng Haoran

Li Bai

701-762 CE
(translated by William P. Coleman)

I love Master Meng, the first man;
like wind-flow, you hear of him everywhere.

In red youth, he gave up on the royal carriage;
white-haired now, he lies among pines — in clouds.

Intoxicated in the moon, he often hits sainthood;
bewildered among flowers, he has no work that fits a gentleman.

He’s a high mountain I’m fortunate to look up at;
to this apprentice he gives out clear scent.

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