《Tune: River All Red – To Officer Zhu》Su Shi

江漢西來        The Yangzi and Han rivers from the west meet
高樓下                        Right at the tall Crane Tower’s feet
葡萄深碧        Waters green as grapes
猶自帶                        They carry
岷峨雲浪        Snow ripples from Mt. Omei
錦江春色        To display spring in scenic beauty
君是南山遺愛守        You are the benevolent officer from South Mountain
我為劍外思歸客        I a roamer longing for my native Sichuan home
對此間                                    On this encounter
風物豈無情                All events and times are rich in affection
殷勤說                        To dialogue in satisfaction Continue reading →

《Tune: Riverside City Song》 Su Shi

墨雲拖雨過西樓        Dark clouds carry heavy rain past tower west
水東流                                    Heavy currents eastward crest
晚煙收                                    Evening haze ceased
柳外殘陽                    Beyond the willows the sun sets in peace
回照動簾鉤                Its lingering rays shine on curtain hooks
今夜巫山真個好        How wonderful this night is in Mt Mu
花未落                                    Flowers blooming still
酒新篘                                    New wines drained and full Continue reading →

《Tune: Wine Spring Song》Pan Lang

長憶觀潮                    Tide watching stays in my memory always
滿郭人爭江上望        The city was out to watch the majestic beauty
來疑滄海盡成空        Tides came as if the sea was being emptied
萬面鼓聲中                Thunders roared from ten thousand places Continue reading →

《Tune: River all Red•Thoughts up the Yellow Crane Tower》Yue Fei

遙望中原                                          I gaze on the Central Plain far away
荒煙外                                 Beyond the wasteland
許多城郭                                          How many deserted towns and city walls
想當年                                 In years of yore
花遮柳護                                          Behind screens of lush willows and colorful flowers
鳳樓龍閣                                          Stood many bowers and majestic towers
萬歲山前珠翠繞                   The Royal Hill adorned in pearls and emeralds
篷壺殿里笙歌作                   In the Fairy Palace flute songs echo
到而今 鐵騎滿郊畿                  Now behold enemy iron horses trod all over
風塵惡                                 Followed by dusts in fierce gusts Continue reading →

《Tune: Lily Magnolia Short Form》Wang An Guo

畫橋流水                   Beneath the painted bridge waters glide
雨濕落紅飛不起     Wet by rain fallen petals can no longer fly
月破黃昏                   The moon breaks through twilight
簾裡餘香馬上聞     Fragrance from your curtain stays with me on my ride
徘徊不語                   I linger in silence
今夜夢魂何處去     Wondering in tonight’s dreams whither my presence
不似垂楊                   Unlike the free flowing willows
猶解飛花入洞房     They shed catkins to fly visiting your pillows

《Tune: Southern Country Song》Wang An Shi

自古帝王州                              This capital had been home for emperors since old
鬱鬱蔥蔥佳氣浮                       Lush green and rich blooms seen in majestic mode
四百年來成一夢 堪愁   Four hundred years passed like a dream sad and sorrow
晉代衣冠成古丘             Contemporary laureates had tombs same as ancient burials

繞水恣行遊                              Along the river I travel at will
上盡層樓更上樓                       Up the city wall I ascend high to view
往事悠悠君莫問 回頭   Ask not what past events gone or faded
檻外長江空自流                       Beyond the rail the Yangzi flows on to no avail

Continue reading →

《Tune: Fragrant Courtyard_ Summer Thoughts》Zhou Bang Yan

風老鶯雛 In balmy winds young orioles learn to fly
雨肥梅子 Rains abundant plums thrive
午陰佳樹清園 In the mid-day sun the tree spreads round and cool
地卑山近 Surrounding the small plain hills seem nigh
衣潤費爐煙 Our clothes wet getting dried on smoky fire
人靜鳥鳶自樂 In the quietude people sit while birds make merry
小橋外，新淥濺濺 Beyond the red bridge a green stream chatters leisurely
憑闌久 On the rail I lean my mind preoccupied
黃蘆苦竹，疑泛九江船 Identifying myself with the fate of a poet friend in exile
In the tangle of weeds and bamboos
His life condemned in taboo Continue reading →