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A mother saw I, pulling her threads,Mending the clothes of her departing son.Her rapid actions exacerbated By his imminent departure, While desiring nothing stronger Than for him to come home Safe and soon! My friends, if you ask me, Whether this feeble, inch long grass Can repay the immense kindness Of sunshine in Spring, I would be at a loss for an answer!

Mang Jiao

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I particularly loves the aromatic plants by the water. Above an oriole sings full- throated into the wood. Spring waters swollen with rain, It becomes swift towards the evening. By a wild dock where no one sets foot on, A moored boat re-oriented itself with the current.

Wei Yinwu

*************************************He was also called Wai So Chow as he had been the Governor of So Chow. He died at the age of 90 at a time when the average life-span in China was 45. Top of Form

Ah, there she was,In cloud-fancied dresses.Framed by lovely tresses,A flower- fancied look!Heavy dew balconyHer flesh ivoryBy Spring breeze was caressed!Had we not met inThis Jade- Clustered Mountain,I would have imaginedOur date under the moon,Where nymph and I were joinedAt a sacred fountain!

Li Bai

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At this height we can see The citadels of the ancient Qin Under clouds driven by swift wind, The meeting place of the 5 rivers. Like brothers traversing in Our Respective destiny of officialdom, We must go each on our own way. As long as we can endear our hearts With this friendship started long ago in China, You may be off to The farthest reach of the empire, We shall still be like neighbors Living next door to each other! Why then, my kind friend, Do we shed such tears In this moment of farewell? We really look like Two babies crying, dont we?

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Her pending visit wasJust an empty promise!Gone was she,Forever gone was she, in truth!At dawn, the crescent moonHanged atop the roof.In my dreamI saw her off for a long trip,Loud did I cry, without avail,Cried I aloud but she vanished.I wrote her a letter in haste,It was written in such great hasteThat the ink was still quite runny.The candlelight IlluminatedHalf that cage of the kingfisher's.The musk fragrance gently diffusedThe hibiscus-embroidered net!

May I tell you where my love's gone?If Master Lau's Fung Mountain's far,The one in the folklore,-- my friend,Wherever she went was farther,Ah, so infinitely farther!

Li Sheng Yin

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A bright moonHas just come out of TianshanO how it floats betweenThe vastness of heaven and sea!A fierce wind must have traveledThousands of milesTo blow over the Yumen Pass!Here's Biden Road,Where the Han EmperorHad managed to escape from a siege.There's Tsinghai Bay,Where the Hu armiesAre still covetously eyeing our lands.Right from the very beginningThese places are battlegroundsFrom where no one was seenComing out alive!The garrison men are keeping watchOver the frontier with sad faces,Twisted from missing their homes.Meanwhile, I can imagineThat back home,Their spouses are alsoHeaving sighs non-stopFrom the lookouts of towers!Li Bai

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In Springtime the orchid leaves are so luxuriant,During the Fall, Osmanthus flowers so pure and bright!Seeing such boom and feeling their thriving,One recognizes a lovely festival!How is it possible for anyone to understand a forest-dweller,Who catches on their fragrance and becomes contented with gladness,As if in saying, the plants and trees all have self-natures of their own,Why would they need a beautiful woman to pluck them at all?

Zheng Jiu Lin

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I go to an old temple at daybreak.The dawning sun shines upon the high forest.A bamboo path leads me to a quiet place!There, the monks' quarters are deep in the flowers and wood.Even the birds are delighted by the mountain views.As I see my own reflection on the lake, all desires vanish.At that very moment everything become still.Nothings heard beyond the sound of bells and chimes

Chang Jian

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Very much do I admire Master Mang!His poems in China are so renowned!In youth, he did smash his dream of power.When aged, to pines and flowers he retired!Oft he viewed the moon intoxicatedAttached to flowers, attached was he well!To serve his sovereign? Oh, what the hell !Can you really emulate mountain tall?No, sir! but to steal some fragrance, that's all !

Li Bai

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Alone on a boat ,A boat with tilted mast...On the shore you can feelA breeze caresses the grass!Stars hang downOn the wild plain wide.Waves of this great riverPush the lone moon high!Have my poems brought me fame?Owing to Ill healthI must quit this game!This instability,This turmoil in life!May I tell you what it's like?A gull, it's like a gullAfloat, wavering and surf Between the good EarthAnd Heaven bright!

Tu Fu

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From all things worldlyAm I now withdrawn fully!Getting old, it's quietude I favor.To the world, neither have IAny good solutions to offer!Only I know what suits me best:Coming home to old forest nest!Pine wind blows aloof my clothing.Mountain moon shines on me harp playing.You ask how must ones life wisdom keep?Hear thee, hear thee, the fishermen's songsThat travel into the riverside deep?

Wang Wei

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In my middle ageI was into Buddhism and a fan.As my age advances,I live by the edge of Zhong Nan Shan.It pleases me whenever I deem,Alone I would venture out.Alone can I feel the joy supreme!I would sit and watch the rise of cloudsAs I come to the end of the stream.Sometime I would see my forest chum.Oh, we would just laugh and chat,And so completely would I forget -Forget about getting home!

Wang Wei

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Parallel to the wall by the north

The green mountains line.

To the east of town

A clear river winds.

It's here that we must say good bye!

And like the rootless punta,

You'll journey ten thousand miles!

While the setting sun is our sadness,

Floating clouds would sail your mind!

We come apart at the waves of hands,

Bitterly the horse that leaves its herd whines!

Li Bai

Morning rain clarifies the dust In City of Wei.It repaints the hostel willowsRefreshes its green, this gentle day!More wine, man?West of Pass Yang, Never are we to meet,Never again, Oh, dear friend!

Wang Wei

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The old master had departedOn the back of his yellow crane!What's left here,Empty Tower Yellow Crane!Yellow crane had since returned no more.For thousands of years,White clouds set their sailsB'twixt heaven's vast empty shores!On any fine day on the stream,Far-away trees of Han YangAre visible in the sun's beam.Aromatic plants everywhere,So luxuriant on Parrot Island there!Whose hometown now will the sun set on?Verily I wonder who?An answer not forthcoming,Misty waves on the riverCan surely, surely sadden you!

Cui Hao

Grass has grown in such exuberance...Profuse is the rain near Memorial Day!Mirrored in the dam are the willows,This wheat- seedlings- wind really makes them sway!But look! With homes they can ne'er go back to,This throng of abject miserable!Oh, cuckoo, please, Please leave me too!Weep thou with such ebullient sorrow!

ANONYMOUS

;

Master Jun with Lu Yee harp in his armsDescended Mount Emei.Down the west slope descended he!With one stroke he made such soundAs wondrous magic came to be!His music can blow your mind, like a windThat combed through ten thousand pines!The languishing stream thus createdWashed away all desires in my heart.Desires utterly detached,And desires became unrelated!Then came the Finale, Unto which frost-chimes gained entry.Lost in this music most divine, found IOn the emerald mountain, last beam die!Thereupon I wondered,How many layers now,Are formed of the dimming autumn clouds ?

Li Bai

While a visitor in Liang Chuan,We partied together,And bothgot drunk.

This stream has flowedFor ten years,- oh well,Ever since floating clouds -Bade each other farewell!

United again today,Albeit with no changes -In our old joyous ways!

Looking at our own hair,So much whiter and rarer,We all are!

Why this return for the north, gentle friend?Leaving me behind, as alone as one can?

Here on River Huai,So blankly staring am I!Ah, here on Huai River,Stare I into autumn hills forever!

WEI YINWU

Ascending, on an autumn dayThis ancient tower of desertion,Is truly a sure wayTo rouse your homesickemotions!Here a remote templeWith few visitors stands.There, a deep river dividesCloud-capped mountains.The setting sun is attachedTo the citadel ruins still,While cold temple chimesThe empty forest fill!South Dynasty's sad tales are no more,Yet the great YangtzeIs still roaring along the shores!Liu Changqing

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, 7/4/16, 11:30 AM - Ben Lau :A bright moon is born of the sea.From here till land's end,This beauteous moment share we!Lovers must hate lying awake,Missing each other through the night!Loving the full moon,She blows out the light.She puts on the gown,As she feels the heavy dew around.Gifting this moon to himWith both hands she can't.She hopes to step into dreams,Wherein they can meet again!Zhang Jiu Ling

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From the west wing, thou cicada,I hear thee sing!And this prisoner'sHome-sickness is aroused!Can I be so unmoved by thee,Thou glimpse of jet-black cloud?Crying out thy heart,High up in the air,Plaintively whispering to me,One of greying hair!"So hard to fly!-"When heavy dew presses on wings!""As wind turns noisy,"My voices just drowned out!"-- you sing.Since no one can believeThou possess nobility,Would they understand though,My admiration for thee ?

LUO BIN WANG

Superb calligraphic master, also a great poet...

Long had I been burdenedBy my officialdom!Thus I'm so gladWith this south-bound demotion!Whenever I'm free,Socialize would IWith nearby peasantry!A forest dweller occasionallyMyself I turn out to be!At dawn I plough,And I turn over the dewy grass.At dusk I create such noise,As my moving boatWith the brook stones crash!Not a single soulDo I see coming or going.So full-throated praise IThe blue of the southern skySolo in my singing!

Liu Zong Yuen

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Behold the abundant grass on earth!Yearly it completesIts cycle of death and birth!Wild fire fails to burn it out,When Spring breeze blows,Again it sprouts!As far as the ancient road leads,It keeps up its invasion.For dotty citadel ruins,It provides gleeful connections!Now that we say farewell again,The lush grass fully displaysSuch departure emotion!

BAI JU YI

Night of east wind:Fireworks explode.Flowering a thousand trees in all,Stars plummet,Like a profusion of rainfall!Treasured horses drawing wagonsOf sculpted elegance loom,Leaving the streets fully perfumed!Phoenix flutes carry such fine tunes-That hold your heart in swoon!Jade pots swirl,Wildly, wildly reflecting the moon!Night then becomes a danceOf fish and glorious dragons.And the night magic's on!Lovely dames pass me by,In their jackets of golden threads,Gleefully chatting and laughing,...And their light-footed treads,Behind with a perfume trail leaving!A thousand times sought her-- I,Amidst the crowd of bodies and heads,But have I so lost track, alas!Suddenly with a turn of my head,And behold: there she's,-- my lass!A rather dark corner that,--There, a dark corner'sWhere my love's at!Xin Qi Ji

Behold this poor migrant,Who once conqueredThe southern lands!A hundred thousandsWas he put in command.After the war,He's no longerA commander of men.Now in his old age,Cherishes he stillThe enlightened days!He stands alone with peaceOn all three sides.Only his sword knowsHe's not afraid to die!Ah, on the vast river wide,With the sun setting,Where will he go?Wherefore he wanders,-- why?

LIU CHEUNG QING

Qing Ping Le Yan Shu

With small charactersWritten on red letter pad.Nothing in my bosomIs left unsaid.With hong yan in cloudAnd fish within water,I fear though,My feeling for theeAre ne'er delivered!Alone at sunsetI look out from Tower West.Oh, alone do I look! --Distant hills happen to faceThe curtain hook!Where gone are thou,Dream girl lil ?--Ne'er was I told!Flowing eastward stillAre these currents emerald!

On Phoenix Tower,There dwelled a true Phoenix once.When Phoenix departed,Tower was deserted!Of wondrous Phoenix--There is none!Undeterred though,Is the great river in its run!A quiet path's buried in fullBy growing plants and flowersFrom out the Palaces of Wu!Jin Dynasty's many notables,--An ancient mound's formedFrom countless state funerals.There stands three mountains,Half of whose forms,--Are found beyond green heaven!Here flow the two streams,As river was divided midwayBy Egret Island to this day!Floating clouds alwaysBlock the sun brilliant.Ah, much sadden am I,Not being in sight of Chiang An--The Capitol Magnificent!

Li Bai

Oh, what carefree art!Along a clear brook,In the deep forest,--What cruise on horse-drawn cart!The gushing streamSenses my feeling,And home-bound birdsDo fly with me-- it seems,In this wondrous evening!Ancient dock by a deserted town,Autumn hills,See how they are filled,--With dying beam at sundown!Farther away is home,At the foot of magnificent Song,Coming home,Gladly will I close my gate,Just too glad to be alone!

Wang Wei

Along the way can be seenAll over the moss my foot-prints.White clouds linger by the quiet shore.Spring grass blocks a restful door!To view the after-rainFreshness of the pinesI follow the mountainsWhere the water-source I find.Brook flowers in this Zen moment,Render me speechless,--They are such exuberance!Liu Chang Qing--

Departed is the strangerWho dwelled in the tower high...Petals from his small garden wildly fly!Crooked paddy paths,--They randomly land upon.Waving their farewell lastTo the setting sun beyond.Too heartbroken to sweep them away!Seeing how they wishThey can come back some other days!Ah, wondrous hearts ofnoble fragrance!Thou has set me in dismay.The death of Spring already saddens,I must also shed tears for thy fate!

Li Shang Yin

Over at Mountain North,Within the white clouds deep,There dwells a happy hermit.Blissful unto himselfThe hermit keeps!To see him wanted I,-So scaled I the stiff cliff high.Trailing the yans in flightAll my desires died.Yet sadness did lingerWith the light mist's rise...While my passion was inspiredBy a clear Autumn sky!Resting by the dock,Home-bound villagers saw I,As walking on sandHad made them tired!Far beyond were trees,Looking like chestnut grass.Oh, they appeared so t-i-n-y!By the shore was an islandShaping like the moon.Shall we come here,- and bring wine?Oh, it'd better be soon!We shall then get high,In celebration of the Double-nine!

Meng Hao Ran

(Double -nine is a festival that falls on the ninth day of the ninth month. To celebrate it, people all over China leave their towns for the mountains.)

8/14/16, 2:40 PM - Ben Lau :

Prolonged rain with its dampnessHas delayed the fire for cookingIn the vast empty forest.Being prepared are mealsFor those laboring in the east field.Over the patterned paddyI see an egret flying.In summer wood's deep shadesAn oriole merrily sings.Morning at the mountain meditationHibiscus is in my contemplation.Under the pines,I enjoy a vegetarian meal,And I pluck a sunflower with dew.This old man of the wild is done--Worldly competition he has with none.Why then- oh, gull from the sea!Remains thou so suspicious of me?

WANG WEI