《西江月*茶》《Tune: Moon Over West River * Tea》Huang Ting Jian
龍焙頭綱春早 The prized Dragon Bake arrived by logistics in early spring
谷簾第一泉香 Valley Window the Premier Spring its fragrance swing
已醺浮蟻嫩鵝黃 In the simmering yellow broth swells the ant like bubbles
想見翻成雪浪 Waiting for churns of snow-white ripples Continue reading
《試茶》陸游 《Testing Tea》 Lu You
蒼爪初驚鷹脫韝 The Eagle Claw tea has been brewed to satisfaction
得湯已見玉花浮 In the broth is seen ripples in action
睡魔何止避三舍 Drowsy ghost has disappeared tens of miles far
歡伯直知輸一籌 Prime wine admits defeat in upholding the spirit at par Continue reading
《茶坡》陸希聲(?-896) 《Tea Slope》Lu Xi Sheng
二月山家谷雨天 For mountain dwellers days of Grain Rain Fest are important
半坡芳茗露華鮮 Delightful to see new shoots thriving in slopes of tea plantation
春酲酒病兼消渴 Diabetic sufferers and chronic drunks no longer need worry
惜取新芽旋摘煎 A bowl of new tea broth by the slope offers effective remedy
《Tune: Silky Sand Brook * Pinning for My Deceased Wife》Nalan Xingde
誰念西風獨自涼 For whom I pine for west wind in the cold
蕭蕭黃葉閉疏窗 Behind closed shutters I hear yellow leaves on grounds toll
沉思往事立殘陽 And recall our happy experience in days old Continue reading
《Tasting Tea at the Three Gorges》Zheng Gu
簇簇新英摘露光 From the dew wet tea shrubs we pick tender leaves
小江園裡火煎嘗 Then brew them for taste in a garden party spree
吳僧漫說鴉山好 A monk from Tai Lake praises the Crow Hill supreme
蜀叟休誇鳥嘴香 A Sichuan senior opines the Bird Beak fragrance serene Continue reading
《西山》劉克莊(1187-1269) 《West Hill》Liu Ke Zhuan
絕頂遙知有隱君 High up the mountain zenith lives this hermit
餐芝種術麈為群 Eating fungi and herbs he and animals keep no limit
多應午灶茶煙起 Vapors rise every noon when he brews tea
山下看來是白雲 From downhill it looks like white clouds flee
《過揚子江二首》楊萬里(1127-1206) 《Passing the Yangzi River》Yang Wan Li
只有清霜凍太空 Only pure frost could keep outer space cold
更無半點荻花風 Amid reef flowers one could find no winds blow
天開雲霧東南碧 Clouds clear the sky is blue south and east
日射波濤上下紅 Sunny days set both sea wave and sky ablaze Continue reading
《走筆謝孟諫議寄新茶(節譯)》盧同(795-835)
《A Note with a Gift of New Tea(Rendition of parts)》Lu Tong
日高丈五睡正濃 In deep slumber at high noon I feel happy
軍將打門驚周公 A minor officer knocks and wakes me up suddenly
口雲諫議送書信 To announce the delivery of a note personal
白絹斜封三道印 A silk-wrap box marked by three seals emerald
開緘宛見諫議面 Opening the package to read the note at ease
手閱月團三百片 I find a cake of tea with three hundred tea leaves Continue reading
春木南溟筆 陸羽像(部分)
《謝徐璣惠茶》徐照(?-1211) 《Thanks to Xu Ji for a Gift of Tea》Xu Zhao
建山惟上貢 Tea leaves from Mt. Jian are national gift quality
採擷極艱辛 Collecting them involves extreme difficulty
不擬分奇品 No attempt to make grading classification
遙將寄野人 Coming from afar to me is special valuation Continue reading
《定風波 * 暮春漫興》《滿江紅 * 題冷泉亭》《杏花天》《滿江紅》
《定風波 * 暮春漫興》辛棄疾(1140-1207)
《Tune: Calm Wind and Wave * Late Spring》Xin Qi Ji
少日春懷似酒濃 Spring felt like aged brew in days youthful
插花走馬醉千鍾 Playing games on horseback I drank wine a thousand cups filled
老去逢春如病酒 In old age all springs evoke wine rueful
唯有 Exception
茶甌香篆小簾櫳 A bowl of fragrant tea behind drapes low Continue reading