poems

  • Seeing Meng Haoran off at Yellow Crane Tower [Tang Poems]

    — Li Bai My friend has left the west where the Yellow Crane towers For River Town green with willows and red with flowers. His lessening sail is lost in the boundless blue sky, Where I see but the endless River rolling by.

  • Farewell at the Baling Pavilion [Tang Poems]

    — Li Bai We part at the Pavilion Old; The river flows its water cold. Above we see trees not in bloom. Below the vernal grass in gloom. I ask a wanderer if we go astray; He says an ancient poet took this way. The way extends to the west capital, Where floating clouds…

  • To Wang Lun [Tang Poems]

    — Li Bai I, Li Bai, sit in a boat about to go, When suddenly on shore your farewell songs overflow. However deep the Lake of Peach Blossoms may be, It’s not so deep, O Wang Lun, as your love for me.

  • To Wang Changling Banished to the West [Tang Poems]

    — Li Bai All willow-down has fallen and sad cuckoos cry To hear you banished southwestward beyond Five Streams. I would confide no sorrow to the moon on high For it will follow you west of the Land of Dreams.

  • Seeing Secretary Chao Back to Japan [Tang Poems]

    — Wang Wei The sea is far and wide. Who knows the other side? How far is it away? A thousand miles, you say. Look at the sun, O please! Your sail should trust the breeze. Turtles bear the dark sky; Giant fish raise waves high. When you are in your isle, There are…

  • Seeing Yuan the Second off to Anxi [Tang Poems]

    — Wang Wei No dust is raised on the road wet with morning rain; The willows by the hotel look so fresh and green. I invite you to drink a cup of wine again; West of the Sunny Pass no more friends will be seen.

  • Seeing Li off to Zizhou [Tang Poems]

    — Wang Wei The trees in your valley scrape the sky, You’ll hear in your hills cuckoo’s cry. If it rained at night in your mountain, You’d see your tree tips hung like fountain. Your women weave to make a suit; You’d try to solve people’s dispute. The sage before you opened schools; Like…

  • At Parting [Tang Poems]

    — Wang Wei Dismounted, I drink with you And ask what you’ve in view. “I can’t do what I will; So I’ll do what I will; I’ll ask you no more, friend, Let clouds drift without end!”

  • Farewell to Xin Jian at Lotus Tower [Tang Poems]

    — Wang Changling A cold rain dissolved in East Stream invades the night; At dawn you’ll leave the lonely Southern hills in haze. If my friends in the North should ask if I’m all right, Tell them I’m free from blame as ice in crystal vase.