白日依山盡 黃河入海流
欲窮千里目 更上一層樓
Ascending the Heron Tower 江紹倫 譯
The white sun diminishes o’er the mountain top
The ocean-bound Yellow River flows non-stop
To see a grandeur view a thousand li from here
One more flight up the tower it will be near
白日依山盡 黃河入海流
欲窮千里目 更上一層樓
Ascending the Heron Tower 江紹倫 譯
The white sun diminishes o’er the mountain top
The ocean-bound Yellow River flows non-stop
To see a grandeur view a thousand li from here
One more flight up the tower it will be near
人閒桂花落 夜靜春山空
月出驚山鳥 時鳴春澗中
A Dale Where Birds Sing 江紹倫 譯
Folks enjoy their respite when sweet osmanthus fall
Spring hills become empty on quiet nightfall
A sudden moonshine could awake birds in the bare hill
Their fitful twitters will keep a spring dale filled
渭城朝雨浥輕塵 客舍青青柳色新
勸君更盡一杯酒 西出陽關無故人
To a Departing Ambassador 江紹倫 譯
This quiet little town Wei is clean washed by morning rain
Young willows by the tavern lodge are bright and green
Do down this cup of wine with me once and again
West of the Sun Pass no more friends will be seen
日日人空老 年年春更歸
相歡在樽酒 不用惜飛花
Farewell to Spring 江紹倫 譯
Day after day we all grow old
But spring returns every year we know
Let’s enjoy togetherness o’er a bottle of wine
And not feel sad seeing fallen petals fly
青山横北郭 白水繞東城
此地一為别 孤蓬萬里征
浮雲游子意 落日故人情
揮手自兹去 萧萧班馬鳴
Farewell My Friend 江紹倫 譯
Green mountains range across the northern sky
White water girds the eastern hometown
Here we each other say goodbye
Alone you will freely drift as light as thistledown
Howe’er you may roam following the floating clouds
At every sunset your tender heart will feel affectionately bound
Let’s wave so you can get on your way
Await not your steed so impatiently neigh
移舟泊烟渚 日暮客愁新
野曠天低樹 江清月近人
Mooring on Jiande River 江紹倫 譯
I moor my boat by the misty rivershore
Renewing grief haunt me when the sun is seen no more
The vastness of this unending plain dwarfs tall trees
While deep in the crystal clear river the moon is near me
对酒不觉暝,
落花盈我衣。
醉起步溪月,
鸟还人亦稀。
Self-Abandonment
tr. Arthur Waley
I sat drinking and did not notice the dusk,
Till falling petals filled the folds of my dress.
Drunken I rose and walked to the moonlit stream;
The birds were gone, and men also few.
平林漠漠烟如织
寒山一带伤心碧
暝色入高楼
有人楼上愁
玉阶空伫立
宿鸟归飞急
何处是归程
长亭连短亭
Pu Sa Man Li Bai
Translated by Chen Yaoguo (1965 from Ottawa)
A misty forest weaves far and wide
to cold teal mountains, my heartbreaks aside.
Darkness befalls a mansion tall,
wherein melancholy is stored.
Standing alone on steps of jade,
birds flutter fast to roost ending the day.
Where is my way home?
I’d falter long and short along pausing zones.
葡萄美酒夜光杯
欲飲琵琶馬上催
醉臥沙場君莫笑
古來征戰幾人回
Up to the Front 江紹倫 譯
Fine grape wine fills agate cups so luminous by night
Before we drank to the tune of pipa we were summoned on horse back to fight
Do not show your scorn whence you see us dead drunk on the battleground
How many warriors down history ever came home save and sound
床前明月光 疑是地上霜
舉頭望明月 低頭思故鄉
On a Quiet Night 江紹倫 譯
Moonlight floods on ground in front of my bed
Could it be frost that had spread
Raising my head I see the moon so bright
Lowering it I yearn to reach home tonight
Gertrude Chan – November 20, 2009 at 10:27 am
Before my bed moon beams sprawl
Like frost on the ground aglow
Lifting my head I look at the bright moon
Lowering my head I pine for home
ykchan – November 29, 2009 at 9:55 am
Evening Reflections–Li Bai
Claire-de-lune shines on my bed,
as ground frost seemingly shed.
Looking up at the bright moon,
into a nod in yearning for home me lets.