poetic melancholy

  • Falling Flowers [Tang Poems]

    — Li Shangyin The guest has left my tower high, My garden flowers pell-mell fly. Here and there over the winding way They say goodbye to parting day. I won’t sweep them with broken heart, But wish they would not fall apart. Their love with spring won’t disappear, Each dewdrop turns into a tear.

  • To the Willow Tree [Tang Poems]

    — Li Shangyin Having caressed the dancers in the vernal breeze, You’re ravished amid the merry-making trees. How can you wail until clear autumn days are done To shrill like poor cicadas in the setting sun?

  • To the Cuckoo [Tang Poems]

    — Wu Rong You see your splendor gone with the wind disappear; You waft with resplendent feather from year to year. Your tears have dyed the flowers red in alien hill; But when spring comes to your garden, grass looks green still. Among the leaves, trees dark in rain long you stay; At moonset…

  • To the Partridges [Tang Poems]

    — Zheng Gu Over warm misty grassland wing to wing you fly. As fair and good as pheasants in the mountain high. When Grass-green Lake is darkened in rain, you pass by; When flowers fall on the Imperial Tomb, you cry. A roamer would wet his sleeves with tears on heating your song; His…

  • The Returning Wild Geese [Tang Poems]

    — Qian Qi Why won’t you stay on Southern River any more? Why leave its water clear, sand bright and mossy shore? You cannot bear the grief revealed in the moonlight By the Princess’ twenty-five strings, so you take flight.