Chinese Poems 


   I

   Unable to sleep, I get up and play
   A song upon my dulcimer.
   Through the thin thin curtains the bright moon shines...
   A light breeze tugs at my lapel.

   In the wilderness a solitary wild goose
   cries. North of the woods, birds scatter.
   Pacing to and fro, what should I see,
   Sorrow, longing, wounded heart! but me?

   -Rwan Ji c. 250 A.D.

   Trsl (c) Gerken 12/03/91

.PG


   II

   Ask me
   what idea
   roosts on
   green mountain?

   Smile and
   don't reply...
   the heart's
   another matter.

   Peach blossoms...
   flowing water...
   pass away...

   Somewhere there's a
   heaven and another earth
   devoid of this.

   - Li Bai c. 730 A.D.

   trsl (c) gerken 12/03/91


.PG


   III

   Fine grass
   Soft wind
   Sea shore.

   Towering mast
   solitary boat
   midnight...

   Stars suspended
   broad flat
   wilderness. 
   
   The moon leaps
   across great rivers
   flowing...

   How are all these names
   and poems
   written?

   Old and ill
   It's time to quit
   this office...

   Floating floating
   what's it all
   resemble?

   Heaven, Earth...
   one solitary Sand Seagull
   circling.

   - Du Fu 765 A.D.

   trsl (c) Gerken 120391

.PG


   IV

   East wind blows
   rain vexes
   traveler

   New road
   fine dust
   turns muddy

   Flowers sleep
   willows drowse
   Spring itself is lazy

   Who'd have guessed
   that only I
   am lazier!

   - Lu You c. 1200 A.D.

   trsl (c) Gerken 13/03/91


.PG


   V

   old friend 
   leaves yellow crane tower
   in the west
   mist
   flowers
   third month
   disperses yang jou

   lonely sail
   distant shadow
   the blue emptiness
   appears

   all i see is 
   the long river
   flowing towards
   heaven's edge...

   - Li Bai c 730 A.D.

   trsl (c) gerken 1303/91


.PG


   VI

   face to face with wine
   the night was not aware of me
   fallen flowers
   overflowed my clothes

   drunk i arose
   walking by the stream
   motioned to the moon...

   the birds returned my greeting...
   few if any people dared...

   - Li Bai c. 750

   trsl (c) gerken 13/03/91


.PG



   VII

   The sea ghost came. Departed.
   Left an evil swirling wind.

   Rough waves assaulted gates of heaven,
   Stone wall cracked.

   Je river. Eight month.
   What does this resemble?

   Huge connected mountain waves,
   Spitting snow, appear.

   - Li Bai c. 750 A.D.

   trsl (c) gerken 14/03/91


.PG


   VIII

   Empty mountain
   No one there
   Yet I hear a voice
   As if a dream

   Sun returns
   Cuts through deep forest
   Illuminates
   Green moss...

   trsl (c) Gerken 14/03/91


.PG


   IX

   Evening
   Green mountains 
   Far away

   Cold sky
   Thatched hut
   Poverty

   Brushwood gate
   Dog barks
   In the dark

   Wind and snow
   Night. Who is that  
   Returning?

   - Bai Jyu-Yi c. 800 A.D.

   trsl (c) Gerken 14/03/91


.PG


   XI

   Green ant
   Raw wine

   Red clay
   Small wood stove

   Evening comes
   Soon snow

   Should I drink 
   another cup?

   Why not!

   - Bai Jyu-Yi 817 A.D.

   trsl (c) Gerken 14/03/91


.PG


   XII

   spring sleeps
   doesn't know the sun has risen
   everywhere
   heart-felt twittering of birds

   night came. lot's of
   wind and sound and rain.
   flowers fall.
   know how many?

   trsl (c) Gerken 140391