• Ode to the Autumn Breeze [Tang Poems]

    — Liu Yuxi Gone with yellow chrysanthemums last year, You come back when cicada’s song I hear. Your soughing wakes me from dreams at midnight, A year’s wrinkles are seen in mirror bright. Steeds missing frontier grass with bristles rise; Eagles longing for clouds open sleepy eyes. I’ll gaze my fill into the boundless…

  • Late Spring [Tang Poems]

    — Han Yu The trees and grass know that soon spring will go away; Of red blooms and green leaves they make gorgeous display. But willow catkins and elm pods are so unwise, They wish to be flying snow darkening the skies.

  • Spring Snow [Tang Poems]

    — Han Yu On vernal day no flowers were in bloom, alas! In second moon I’m glad to see the budding grass. But white snow dislikes the late coming vernal breeze, It plays the parting flowers flying through the trees.

  • Tune of the River Xiang [Tang Poems]

    — Zhang Ji The River Xiang unruffled in autumn looks wide; The wayfarer at moonset leaves the riverside. We see wayfarers come, we see wayfarers go. Over white duckweed partridges fly to and fro.

  • Early Spring East of the Capital [Tang Poems]

    — Yang Juyuan The early spring presents to poets a fresh scene: The willow twigs half yellow and half tender green. When the Royal Garden’s covered with blooming flowers, Then it would be the visitors’ busiest hours.

  • Tune of the Mountain Goddess [Tang Poems]

    — Meng Jiao Going upstream, I see mountain on mountain high; The twelve green peaks with Sunny Terrace scrape the sky. The king in hunting caught by sudden evening shower Slept there and dreamed of the Goddess in Sunny Bower. To her charm added the mist-veiled rainbow dress bright; Away she flew with faded…