lyrical melancholy

  • Seeing Du Fourteenth off to the East [Tang Poems]

    — Meng Haoran The east and west are joined by boundless water clear; On the endless spring river goes the boat you steer. Where will you moor it at sunset far, far apart? Can I not gaze far, far away with broken heart!

  • 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.

  • To the Cicada [Tang Poems]

    — Li Shangyin High, you can’t eat your fill; In vain you wail and trill. At dawn you hush your song; The tree is green for long. I drift as water flows; And waste my garden grows. Thank you for warning due, I am as poor as you.

  • White Lotus [Tang Poems]

    — 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.

  • Verses on Willow Branches [Tang Poems]

    — Bai Juyi A tree of million branches sways in breeze of spring, More tender, more soft than golden silk string by string. But in west corner of a garden in decay, Who would come to admire its beauty all the day?

  • Swallows in the Sui Palace [Tang Poems]

    — Li Yi The swallows’ twitter seems to grieve over the old dynasty’s spring; To dust have returned palace flowers on the wing. Since the overthrown dynasty closed its splendid scene, They have come many times but nobody is seen.

  • To the Swallows Coming to My Boat [Tang Poems]

    — Du Fu Another spring in boat I stay; Again swallows peck clods of clay. You know me in my native land; Now gazing from afar you stand. Ah, here and there you build your nest; Now and again I find no rest. You greet me and then leave the mast; My tears stream…

  • The Lonely Swan [Tang Poems]

    — Du Fu The lonely swan won’t drink nor eat, But longs to join its flock to fleet. Who will pity its shadow lonely, Astray in the clouds, it wails only. Out of sight, still it seems in view; Lost in grief, its song’s heard anew. What do insensible birds know? You hear only…

  • The End of the Sky [Tang Poems]

    — Li Shangyin Spring is far, far away Where the sun slants its ray. If orioles have tear, Wet highest flowers here!