Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature
— Luo Yin Do not complain of golden cage and wings cut short; The southern land is far warmer than the northwest. Don’t clearly speak if you listen to my exhort; You will offend if clearly your complaint’s expressed.
— Luo Yin Don’t try to make the muddy Yellow River clean! Could Heaven mirrored in the waves be clearly seen? How could a winding stream go up the Milky Way? Just out of Mount Kunlun, it is muddy like clay. In vain the emperor swore to narrow it down; Could a raft reach…
— Luo Yin You grow around a tree with a name bright, You cling together steeped in autumn light. If your flowers could be stored up like gold, The rich would pluck you down since days of old.
— Luo Yin By riverside you see lovers part on fine day; They cling together but they cannot make spring stay. Your catkins waft in the breeze when your branches sway, Could you retain those who are going far away?
— Luo Yin On the plain or atop the hill, Of beauty you enjoy your fill. You gather honey from flowers sweet. For whom are you busy and fleet?
— Lu Guimeng White lotus blooms are often outweighed by red flowers; They’d rather be transplanted before lunar bowers. Heartless they seem, but they have deep grief no one knows. See them fall in moonlight when the morning wind blows.
— Huang Chao In soughing western wind you blossom far and nigh; Your fragrance is too cold to invite butterfly. Some day if I as Lord of Spring come into power, I’d order you to bloom together with peach flower.
— Huang Chao When autumn comes, the Mountain-climbing Day is nigh; My flower blows when other blooms come to an end. In battle array its fragrance rises sky-high, The capital with its golden armor will blend.
— Lai Hu You have a thousand shapes in flakes or piles in vain; Hidden in mountains or on water you remain. The drought is so severe that all seedlings would die. Why won’t you come down but leisurely tower high?