T Ang+poetry+selections 5e242q

Selected poems of the T’ang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). Versions by Joseph J. Portanova from the interlinear translations in Greg Whincup’s The Heart of Chinese Poetry (2-4) and Edward C. Chang’s How to Read a Chinese Poem (1,5-7). ©2011 Joseph J. Portanova

Bai Juyi (772-846) Grass (Two versions by J. Portanova, followed by E.C. Chang’s literal translation and versions) Deep grass Blankets the plain Each year They flourish and die They survive Even wildfires Grow again In spring wind Fragrance perceptible From afar On the ancient road Green shrouds The ruined wall As my friend leaves Again My grief, fresh Green

li li yuan shang cao yi sui yi ku rong one year ye huo shao bu jin chun feng chui you sheng yuan fang qin gu dao qing cui jie huang cheng you song wang sun qu qi qi man bie qing (E.C. Chang)

Plains grasses deep In a single year They grow and die Yet some survive Even wildfires Tall again, in spring wind On the ancient road Their fragrance wafts On the evening wall Their deep green shroud As my old friend leaves, again My grief at parting Deep as the grass

lushly grass on the plain one cycle of flourishing and withering wildfire can’t burn them all spring winds blow and grow again distant fragrance invades ancient road clear green touches ruined wall again to see my friend leaving here luxuriantly full of parting feelings (E.C. Chang)

How lushly the grasses/ grow on the plain! Year after year,/ they wither before flourishing No wildfire/ can burn them all. When spring winds blow, they sprout once more. Far away, their fragrance pervades the ancient road; on a clear day, their green extends to the ruined wall. Now it is you whom I must see off, my dear friend. How can the luxuriant grass Not feel my parting pain! (E.C. Chang)

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Selected poems of the T’ang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). Versions by Joseph J. Portanova from the interlinear translations in Greg Whincup’s The Heart of Chinese Poetry (2-4) and Edward C. Chang’s How to Read a Chinese Poem (1,5-7). ©2011 Joseph J. Portanova

From E.C. Chang op. cit.

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Selected poems of the T’ang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). Versions by Joseph J. Portanova from the interlinear translations in Greg Whincup’s The Heart of Chinese Poetry (2-4) and Edward C. Chang’s How to Read a Chinese Poem (1,5-7). ©2011 Joseph J. Portanova

Li Bai (701-762) Dialogue In The Mountains (c.730) Ask me: Why settle On Green Mountain? I smile No reply Heart At peace Peach blossoms Float On flowing water Far past There is Another Heaven Not among People Du Mu (803-852) ing Past Wandering (c. 830) Li Bai Wrote a poem On West Water Temple Wind moves Through Ancient forests Its galleries Surrounding mountains Its structure I wandered For three days Half sober Half drunk Red flowers White flowers Opened In mountain Rain

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Selected poems of the T’ang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). Versions by Joseph J. Portanova from the interlinear translations in Greg Whincup’s The Heart of Chinese Poetry (2-4) and Edward C. Chang’s How to Read a Chinese Poem (1,5-7). ©2011 Joseph J. Portanova

Greg Whincup, op. cit.

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Selected poems of the T’ang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). Versions by Joseph J. Portanova from the interlinear translations in Greg Whincup’s The Heart of Chinese Poetry (2-4) and Edward C. Chang’s How to Read a Chinese Poem (1,5-7). ©2011 Joseph J. Portanova

Du Fu (712-770) Traveling by Night (765) Fine grasses Light wind On shore A mast rises A lone boat At night Above The wilderness Stars so near The plain The moon Leaps In great river Waves How can Writing Make my Name? I’m old Ill Must Retire What am I like Drifting Drifting? A sand gull Suspended Between Heaven And Earth

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Selected poems of the T’ang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). Versions by Joseph J. Portanova from the interlinear translations in Greg Whincup’s The Heart of Chinese Poetry (2-4) and Edward C. Chang’s How to Read a Chinese Poem (1,5-7). ©2011 Joseph J. Portanova

Cui Tu (8th c.?) New Year’s Evening Three Ba Road far The journey difficult For this body Mountain crags At evening In deep snow A distant stranger A single candle Each day farther From family Closer To servants This drifting life Is hard And tomorrow The New Year Cui Tu (8th c.?) Lonely Wild Goose In lines the geese Returned to the border Then vanished I think of you Alone, where Do you journey In evening rain Mourning lost mates Tentatively descending To the chill waters You fly low over The island clouds The frontier moon From afar, stalks You may not fall To a hunter’s arrow But take care When you fly Alone

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Selected poems of the T’ang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). Versions by Joseph J. Portanova from the interlinear translations in Greg Whincup’s The Heart of Chinese Poetry (2-4) and Edward C. Chang’s How to Read a Chinese Poem (1,5-7). ©2011 Joseph J. Portanova

Du Fu (712-770) Moonlit Night Night Alone In the bedroom With Fu Zhou’s Moon You gaze Far away I pity My children They can’t know Why you think Of Chang’an Evening mist Wets your hair Moonlight, pure Cools Your pale arms When will we Be together Moonlight Drying Paths Of tears?

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