T'ang Poems Translated in a Simplified Classical Form, Part I

CW29:No.36

Yogi C. M. Chen


AT THE TOP OF A HIGH TOWER

by Chen Tzu-Ang

Gaze at the past, there is no sage;
Peer to future, none on the stage.
How mute is the heaven and earth?
With tears, alone, I pass my age!


DARK CLOTHING LANE

by Liu Yu-Sheh

By the red bridge side, many wild green willow,
The sunset has directly shone on the dark lane.
The old rich Wang house has no nest for swallow,
They have to stay in common peoples houses or lane!


WEI-JOU TEMPLE

by Wang-Po

I toured here in the garden thirty years back.
When the New Alter was made, flower open.
Accidentally I now arrive here again,
Tree becomes old, flowers faded, monk no hair black!


THE RIVER

by Lee Yeh

The river washes away all the green spring.
Shu-Dynasty Palace as dust has been !
Tourists dare not to look at the willow,
Wind puffs it--the lament up like a string!


THE SINGER MRS. MO

by Liu Yu Sheh

She seemed to be like Angel from the sky,
She learned the first song of the heaven high!
Please do not sing the prayer song of Tang,
For there is no more official to rely!


PICTURE OF CHIN-LING

by Wei Chong

Who says "Lament can't be drawn out"?
Artists find it in man's mind a lot.
See the South Palace in this picture,
Cold clouds and old trees all are in nought!!

II
Falling on the grass is the small rain.
Six-Dynasty like one dream in vain.
Less emotion is the line of willow,
They are still under the fog like a chain.


YEE CHOU

by Po Chi

I the old fellow, the lament how to bear?
Try my best teach the youth to sing "Yee Chou Song."
Even he succeeds, I have not many years to hear.
Before he learns well,I know my white hair is so long!


TRY TO VISIT THE HERMIT

by Chia Tao

Under the pine I ask the small boy,
He said "Guru has gone to pick herb,
He is in the hills, you may enjoy."
Where is he? The thick clouds seem to disturb!


PARTING MESSAGE

by Tu Mu

It seems loveless, but we were really loving!
However, we could not make a smiling.
The candle seems to have grieved at our parting,
In place of us shed tears till this morning!


CLIMBING LO-YU HILL

by Lee Shang-Yin

This evening my mind seemed not be still,
And so I drove my cart up to old hill!
Infinitely fair is the setting sun,
Nevertheless, the day is almost gone!


SOUTHERN DITTY

by Tsui Hao

"Where is your home? Where do you stay?"
"I live close by the Huang Tang Way."
I stop my boat just to ask him,
"We would be neighbors I may say!"


PASS THE MARSHAL BY FAN-YOUNG HOUSE

by Chou Koo

Outside his door landscape keeps some distance!
He had driven away all the strong Western foes!
Now I pass here and look at the place of dance,
Beside old trees and sunset all things are in loss!


A PARTING DRINK

by Wang Wei

The morning rain in Wei Town seems no end.
Besides the inn only two willows bend!
Please share with me one more cup of wine again,
You know, apart from Yong Kuan, there is no friend!


THE GOLDEN THREADED COAT

by Tu Ching Mang

Covet not the golden threaded coat so long,
But grasp golden years when you are young!
If flowers open you should pluck them,
When it falls, to take might be wrong!


ANTI-WAR

by Chen Tao

In battle who cared of body?
Died in vain, left his lady.
Though bones remain in the stream,
Still a lover in wife's dream !


CROSS THE HAN RIVER

by Lee Pin

Away from home, for news I was longing!
Winter after winter, spring after spring!
Now nearing my village, countrymen meet,
I dare not ask even a single question!


LADY'S GRIEF

by Wong Chang-lin

The young woman does not know sorrow,
Painting her face goes up to tower!
Suddenly she sees the green willow,
Rues sending her lover for power!


YUNG-DEE GRAVE

by Long Ying

In palace sat on throne; outside, carriage!
Each year new willow, each day red story!
Could a king endure to change his royal stage
With only a few miles of cemetery!


PRESENT TO THE SINGER HO TUN

by Liu Yu Sheh

Apart from capital for more than twenty years!
Again I listen to your sweet song with my ears.
Among all my old friends, it is you still alive,
Your best song of Wei-Chen wins too much of my tears!


PASS THE GRAVE OF CHEN-SHIH-WONG

by Hsu Wun

Dragon like hills with many trees.
The destroyed grave could not be free!
On the same autumn grass and mount,
Men only worship Han-Van-Dee!


SOUTH TRAVEL

by Kha Khoon

Sadly I wanted to ask last Dynasty thing.
I saw the river flew away but not come in.
At sunset the wind blows down the grass green,
All birds fly to the altar of the king!


DON'T SHOOT THE WILD GEESE

by Shen Hsun

Don't shoot the wild geese in the air,
When they fly together so fair!
However you have to shoot them,
Please once for all shoot a pair!


COLD RIVER

by Liu Tzung-Yuan

From a thousand mountains the birds have flown,
From a thousand roads human traces are gone!
Just one boat an old man in straw hat and coat,
Fishing nothing the freezing river alone!


SOUTH OF THE RIVER

by Li Yi

I married a business man,
He ate his words so often!
Tide arises at certain time,
Better to love the fish man!


LINE

by Wang Wei

You might know our home-town news,
As you came from our home-town.
Tell me what was your nice view?
Did my winter plum blossom?!


MORNING ON CHIN HUAI RIVER

by Tu Mu

Fog covers waves, moon shines on beach,
Near a small wine-shop our boat reach!
The singers have no grief on loss of state,
They still sing "The flower of palace gate."


MOUNTAIN FAREWELL

by Wang Wei

After on the hill we said "So long!"
I closed bamboo door and sat alone!
I thought of you when next spring the grass,
Turns to new green, you might to me come!


GOODBYE TO SPRING

by Wang Wei

Day by day everyone becomes old.
The Spring will come back also so told!
In a cup of wine, do find your comfort,
"Flowers are falling!"--let them report!


TO A FIREFLY

by Lee Po

Rain can't put out your tiny light,
Wind fans your lamp but makes it bright.
If towards the sky you fly so far,
Besides the moon, you will be a star!


ON WILLOWS

by Liu Yu-Sheh

Yung-dee palace was near River Ping,
A few weathered willows know not Spring!
At sunset wind puffs up the flowers,
Fly into the palace see no being!


A LINE OF SADNESS

by Wang Whun

The night of double-seven we talk old thing.
Either grass or plant all are suffering!
The queen who whispered here now is nothing,
But moon is the same in palace of King!


A SPRING SIGH FOR HER HUSBAND IN THE BATTLE

by Ching Chang Hsu

Drive the Orioles away,
Don't twitter here and stay!
If you wake up my dream,
I might miss my sweet way!


WEEPING FOR MEEN TZEY

by Chang Choh

In this garden we had written our name.
Among our ten friends you were the youngest!
Today a nice Spring, we can't see you the same.
All flowers faded away for her old guest!


WANG CHOU JUEN

by Po Chi

Though there was a sender who could know nothing,
I trust him for redemption beg the king!
If His Majesty asks you "How is her face?"
Please don't say "Unlike she was in palace"!


PLUM FLOWER JETTY

by Chang Hsu

Apart from wild fog, a high bridge hides.
I ask the boatman on the western side,
"The plum flowers flow on the river so long,
Where is the cave, may I beg you to guide"?!


MON-MOUNT

by Shen Chien Chih

In the Northern Mon-Mount there arranged only graves,
It faces to the Long-Yong City for many years.
Bell and songs in the city, day and night, make waves,
But in the Mon-Mount, only the pine voice to hear!


OBSTACLE OF RAIN

by Jung Yu

On the day long rain never ends,
"The way can't pass" message sends!
Tourist can't be free like water
Which always passes my homeland!


NEW YEAR I MEET MY OLD FRIEND

by Nan Wei

Near the lake I met my old good friend again!
Though I'm poor he loved me as much as he can.
Tomorrow he will go, my door will close,
Only bamboos around me--the old man!


ON THE BOAT

by Young Shih Ngo

After rain, the purity of grass and sands remain!
The beautiful Spring covers beach as a white plane.
It is only the cuckoo seems to keep the guest.
Amidst the deep place of plum flowers, there's no man!


THE SOUTHERN VILLAGE

by Teh Whou

Today of last year we all were here.
Flowers and women, all faces were pink!
Now all the flowers show still such cheer,
Where are the women, and how to link?!


PRESENT TO LIN-TZE

by Lu Won

Monk too has interest in Spring!
Should quiet mind without anything?!
Please see in the clear and clean water,
There is the shadow of plant within!


WILLOW

by Ho Chih-Chang

The green jade-like tree has many extensions,
I do not know who is their real possessor.
Many long and fine leaves hang down so nicely,
Spring wind of second month is like their scissor!


SLEEP ON THE SHEN-RIVER

by Jung Yu

In September, river flows slowly.
On beach I welcome Autumn on my boat!
Wind on the water puffs up the leaves gently,
For whole night many fall, cannot note!


RETURN

by Ho Chin Chang

Left home when young, return old.
My hair becomes white being told!
All boys, girls do not know me.
Ask me "What passport you hold?"


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