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At Yi River, Seeing Off a Friend


In ancient times a troubled king did send,
Along this very spot, a hero bold—
And though those men have drowned in time’s lost flood,
These waters now are just as dark and cold.
 
 
Chinese
 
於易水送人
駱賓王
 
此地別燕丹
壯士發衝冠
昔時人已沒
今日水猶寒
Pronunciation
 
Yú Yì Shuǐ Sòng Rén
Luò Bīn wáng
 
Cǐ dì bié yān dān
Zhuàng shì fà chōng guān
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A Play for Cold Meal Day

A Play for Cold Meal Day

Lu Yanrang (~ 900)
 
 
On Twelfth Street here it’s like a packed bazaar,
A world of dust that’s choked and cannot clear;
We work like ox until our sweat pours out,
No time to sit and watch the flowers near.
 
 
Chinese
 
寒食日戲
盧延讓
 
十二街如市
紅塵咽不開
灑蹄馬汗
沒處看花來
Pronunciation
 
Hán Shí Rì Xì
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Cicadas

Cicadas

Yu Shinan (558-638)
 
 
He dangles down to drink the clear light dew,
Exuding sound through the green leaf brush;
And flowing far and wide, his voice flies on
Without the need of wind from autumn’s rush.
 
 
Chinese
 

虞世南
 
飲清露
流響出疏桐
居高聲自遠
非是藉秋風
Pronunciation
 
Chán
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Bamboo Retreat

Bamboo Retreat

Wang Wei (692-761)
 
 
Alone I sit within the bamboo grove
And lift my lute to strum and hum along;
Within this depth of woods a man forgets —
The bright moon comes to mix its light with song.
 
 
Chinese
 
竹裏館
王維
 
獨坐幽篁裏
彈琴復長嘯
深林人不知
明月來相照
Pronunciation
 
Zhú Lǐ Guǎn
Wáng Wéi
 
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Deer Woods

Deer Woods

Wang Wei (692-761)
 
 
Deserted woods — and no one here to see,
Yet still out there I hear the words of spite;
Returning deep within the woods, a scene:
A patch of green shade moss reflects the light.
 
 
Chinese
 
鹿柴
王維
 
空山不見人
但聞人語響
返景入深林
復照青苔上
Pronunciation
 
Lù Chái
Wáng Wéi
 
Kōng shān bù jiàn rén
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Watching the Plum Blossoms

Watching the Plum Blossoms

Lu You (1125-1209)
 
 
The plum trees bloom above the gold grass hill —
Though old, a man cannot enjoy their fluff?
Light mist, the moon, the far-off cattle still —
There’s life and death; don’t fret the common stuff.
 
 
Chinese
 
看梅
陸游
 
梅花樹下茆丘
古人尚能愛花不
月淡煙深聽牧笛
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