At Seven Mile Rapids - Su T'ung Po (1037-1101)

At Seven Mile Rapids

A light boat, one lone leaf,
a startled swan, two oars.

Water and sky are pure Clarity, reflecting deep.
Waves smooth, fish roil this duckwood mirror, 
And egrets dot misty shorelines. 

We breeze past sandy streams, 
frostfall streams cold,
Moonlight streams aglow.

Ridge above ridge, like a painting.
Bend beyond bend like a screen. 

Here I think back to Yen Zi Ling's empty old age, 
Lord and recluse, one dream. 
Renown's empty then as now.

Just mountains stretching away,
Cloud mountains erratic, 
Dawn mountains green.

-- Su T'ung Po (1037-1101), translated by David Hinton, in 'Mountain Home: The wilderness poetery of Ancient China', page 226, published 2014.

7th Moon, 29th sun - Yi - Year of the Ox - I had a dream -- written by Lu Yu (1125-1210)

7th Moon, 29th Sun, Yi- Year of the Ox: I had a Dream Last night in which I met a stately man, and at First Sight we were like old friends. He had written pages of lovely poems Long Ago, all perfectly pure and simple. I started reading through them, But woke Before I finished. To record What happened, I've written This in Long Lines: 

The traveler is an instant friend, utterly clear and true.
Even before we dip out wine, we share kindred thoughts.

The pillow is cold, but I don't understand it's all a dream 
In the clear night. I just savor that vision of an old sage.

Star River tipped, Dipper sunk, ancient histories empty, 
Mist scatters, and clouds leave.

Our two bodies are mirage, and mind is perfect clarity. 
It sees through this illusion.
Awake you can't avoid it: all things the same bittersweet.

- Lu Yu (1125-1210), Translated by David Hinton, in 'Mountain Home - The Wilderness Poetry of Ancient China', 2014

The bloom of youth scatters steadily away

In Reply to Jia Peng of the Mountains

Sent Upon seeing that the pine he planted 

Outside my office Has begun to prosper - Liu Zong-Yuan (773 - 819), David Hinton , Translator

Flourish and ruin keep leaving each other

But no-mind stays, dark enigma's fruition.

The bloom of youth scatters steadily away.

And grandeur crumbles to its tranquil end.

But mountain streams continue here 

in this green pine you brought to this courtyard.

Deep snows showing off its radiant beauty

And cold blossoms its kingfischer greens.

At dawn, even a pure recluse must yearn

Now, I just invite clear wind for company. 

Climbing Mountains in Dream

Climbing Mountains in Dream - Bo Qu Yi  (772 - 846), David Hinton , Translator

Nights hiking Sung mountain in dream,

Just a goosefoot walking stick and me.

A thousand cliffs, ten thousand canyons  

I wander until I have explored them all .

My stride in dream as it was in youth,

Strong and sure and so free of disease.

 

When I wake spirit becomes itself again 

And body returned to flesh and blood.

I realize that in terms of body and spirit 

Body grows sick while Spirit is immune

And yet body and spirit are both mirage 

dream and waking merest appearance.

Scarcely able to hobble around by day, 

Then roaming free all night with ease

In the equal division of day and night

What is there to gain here, and what lose?

In Reply to Mulberry-Bramble Liu-- Tao Qian (T'ao Ch'ien), 5th CE

This poem from Mountain Home: the Wilderness poetry of ancient China, selected and translated by David Hinton, published by Counterpoint Washington DC in the year 2002 ISBN +1-058-243-1493

This poem written by Tao Ch'ien (Tao Qian, 5th ce)
titled "In reply to Mulberry-Bramble Liu"


In this meager home, guests rare, 
I often forget I'm surrounded by turning seasons.

And now falling leaves litter courtyard emptiness 
I grow sadder realizing it's Autumn already. 
Fresh sunflower thickets fill north windows 
Sweet grains in south fields ripen. 

Though I'm far from happy, I know next year may never come. 
"Get the kids together," I call to my wife,
"it's a perfect day for a nice long walk."