清平调 PURE SERENE MUSIC 李白 Li Bai 云想衣裳花想容, From the clouds you think of her dresses, from the flowers her face; 春风拂槛露华浓。 A spring breeze caresses the rail, pearls of dew roll with grace. 若非群玉山头见, If not seen atop the Jade Mountain, 会向瑶台月下逢。 You would meet her under the moon in the Jade Terrace. The…
Category: TANG DYNASTY
GRIEF OF SEPARATION
离思 GRIEF OF SEPARATION 元稹 Yuan Zhen 曾经沧海难为水,除却巫山不是云。 No water is comparable to the green sea; No cloud to the clouds of Mt Wu. 取次花丛懒回顾,半缘修道半缘君。 No woman is worthy of my backward glance: Partly due to ascetic practice, partly you. The first two sentence “No water is comparable to the green sea, no cloud to…
HARD IS THE WAY OF THE WORLD
行路难 Hard is the Way of the World 李白 Li Bai 金樽清酒斗十千,玉盘珍羞直万钱。 Pure wine in golden cup costs ten thousand coins, good! Choice dish in a jade plate is worth as much, nice food! 停杯投箸不能食,拔剑四顾心茫然。 Pushing aside my cup and chopsticks, I can’t eat; Drawing my sword and looking around, I…