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— Luo Binwang Of autumn the cicada sings; In prison I’m worn out with care. How can I bear its blue black wings Which remind me of my grey hair? Heavy with dew it cannot fly; Drowned in the wind, its song’s not heard Who would believe its spirit high? Could I express my…
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— Bai Juyi The departing sunbeams pave a way on the river; Half of its waves turn red and the other half shiver. How I love the third night of the ninth moon aglow! The dewdrops look like pearls, the crescent like a bow.
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— Du Fu Good rain knows its season well, It comes with the spring to dwell. With wind it steals into the night, Moistening all things soft and slight. Wild paths and clouds are lost in deep black, Only the boat’s lamp glows at the riverbank. At dawn, see where petals, damp and red,…
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–Du Fu The sheep and cattle come to rest, All thatched gates closed east and west. The gentle breeze and the moon bright Remind me of homeland at night. Among rocks flow fountains unseen; Autumn drips dewdrops on grass green. The candle brightens white-haired head. Why should its flame blaze up so red?
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–Li Bai The sunlit Censer Peak exhales incense-like cloud; Like an upended stream the cataract sounds loud. Its torrent dashes down three thousand feet from high, As if the Silver River fell from the blue sky.
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— Li Bai The crescent moon looks like old Autumn’s golden brow; Its deep reflection flows with limpid water blue. I’ll leave the town on Clear Stream for the Three Gorges now. O Moon, how I miss you when you are out of view!
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— Wang Wei White pebbles hear a blue stream glide; Red leaves are strewn on cold hillside. Along the path no rain is seen, My gown is moist with drizzling green.
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–Wang Wei On treetops, the magnolia flowers bright, In mountains, the crimson buds take flight. The hut stands brook-side, void of human trace, The flowers bloom in profusion, fall without grace.
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— Wang Wei A single carriage goes to the frontier; An envoy crosses Juyan. Like flying tumbleweed I leave the Han fortress; As homeward geese I come under Tartarian sky. In boundless desert the lonely smoke rises straight; Over endless river the sun sinks round. At Xiao Pass, the patrol riders were met on…