• Farewell on River Yi [Tang Poems]

    — Luo Binwang The hero left his friend With angry hair on end. The martyr’s now no more, The waves cold as of yore.

  • Lamenting the Peony Blossoms [Tang Poems]

    — Bai Juyi I’m saddened by the courtyard peonies brilliant red, At dusk only two of them are left on their bed. I am afraid they can’t survive the morning blast, By lantern light I take a look at the long, long last.

  • Peach Blossoms in the Temple of Great Forest [Tang Poems]

    — Bai Juyi All flowers in late spring have fallen far and wide, But peach blossoms are full-blown on this mountainside. I oft regret spring’s gone without leaving its trace; I do not know it’s come up to adorn this place.

  • White Cloud Fountain [Tang Poems]

    — Bai Juyi Behold the White Cloud Fountain on the Tianping Mountain! White clouds enjoy pleasure while water enjoys leisure. Why should the torrent dash down from the mountain high And overflow the human world with waves far and nigh?

  • Chrysanthemums [Tang Poems]

    — Yuan Zhen Around the cottage like Tao’s autumn flowers grow; Along the hedge I stroll until the sun slants low. Not that I favor partially the chrysanthemum, But it is the last flower after which none will bloom.

  • The Violet Inkstand of Master Yang [Tang Poems]

    — Li He The mason of Duanzhou has marvel-doing hands, Whetting his knife to carve blue clouds, aloft he stands. He grinds the stone in order to make an inkwell; Violet flowers look dim like cold blood shed pell-mell. Black flowers seem like spring at noon behind the screen; The pine-soot ink steeped in…