Tag Archives: Audio Recording

Wen Fu 12 [文赋十二] “Idiosyncrasy” by Lu Ji [陆机] [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
Thoughts conveyed by way of short verse
  May degrade in eccentricity.
 With bowed head, lonely and friendless.
  Face up, vast sky where all is free.
 Like one string stretched to perfect pitch,
  But lacking all resonancy.

NOTES: Earlier I posted a translation by Tony Barnstone and Chou Ping, entitled A One-String Harp that was contained in The Art of Writing (Boston: Shambhala; p. 15) This, however, is my own translation. The original poem in Simplified Chinese is:

或讬言于短韵，对穷迹而孤兴。
俯寂寞而无友，仰寥廓而莫承。
譬偏弦之独张，含清唱而靡应。

Sonnet 53 by William Shakespeare [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
What is your substance, whereof are you made,
  That millions of strange shadows on you tend?
  Since every one hath, every one, one shade,
  And you, but one, can every shadow lend.
 Describe Adonis, and the counterfeit
  Is poorly imitated after you;
  On Helen's cheek all art of beauty set,
  And you in Grecian tires are painted new.
 Speak of the spring and foison of the year:
  The one doth shadow of your beauty show,
  The other as your bounty doth appear;
  And you in every blessèd shape we know.
    In all external grace you have some part,
    But you like none, none you, for constant heart.

“King Trisanku” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
Viswamitra the Magician,
  By his spells and incantations,
Up to Indra's realms elysian
  Raised Trisanku, king of nations. 

Indra and the gods offended
  Hurled him downward, and descending
In the air he hung suspended,
  With these equal powers contending. 

Thus by aspirations lifted,
  By misgivings downward driven,
Human hearts are tossed and drifted
  Midway between earth and heaven.

“Parting” [送别] by Wang Wei [王维] [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
I dismount to share some booze, 
   And ask the wayfarer where he goes.
 Begrudgingly, and with discontent,
   He says, "I'll rest up near South Mount."
 He asks me to just leave him be.
 White clouds cross vast skies - endlessly.

This is poem 13 in the 300 Tang Poems [唐诗三百首.] The original poem in Simplified Chinese is:

下马饮君酒， 问君何所之？
君言不得意， 归卧南山陲。
但去莫复问，白云无尽时。

“It might be lonlier” (405) by Emily Dickinson [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
It might be lonelier
   Without the Loneliness —
 I'm so accustomed to my Fate —
   Perhaps the Other — Peace —

Would interrupt the Dark —
   And crowd the little Room —
 Too scant — by Cubits — to contain
   The Sacrament — of Him —

I am not used to Hope —
   It might intrude upon —
 Its sweet parade — blaspheme the place —
   Ordained to Suffering —

It might be easier
   To fail — with Land in Sight —
 Than gain — My Blue Peninsula —
   To perish — of Delight —

“Everyone’s Journey” by Sōgi [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
Everyone's journey
  through this world is the same,
  so I won't complain.
 Here on the plains of Nasu,
  I place my trust in the dew.

NOTE: This translation by Sam Hamill in The Poetry of Zen (2004) Boston: Shambhala, p. 131.

“A face devoid of love or grace” (1711) by Emily Dickinson [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
A face devoid of love or grace,
   A hateful, hard, successful face,
   A face with which a stone
 Would feel as thoroughly at ease
   As were they old acquaintances —
   First time together thrown.

“Inspired by Late Spring” by Ye Cai [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
Sparrows cast on my desk their shadows in pair,
   And willow down falls in my inkstone here and there.
 Sitting by the window, I read the Book of Change,
   Not knowing when has Spring gone, I only feel strange.

Note: This is the joint translation of Xu Yuanchong and Xu Ming found in the Golden Treasury of Quatrains and Octaves (a Bilingual edition of 千家诗 “Thousands of Poems”) on which they collaborated (i.e. China Publishing Group: Beijing (2008) p. 40)

“His steady sails he never furls” by Henry David Thoreau [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
His steady sails he never furls
   At any time o' year,
 And perching now on Winter's curls,
   He whistles in his ear

“Fable” by Ralph Waldo Emerson [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
The mountain and the squirrel  
  Had a quarrel;  
 And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig.’
 Bun replied,  
 ‘You are doubtless very big;         
  But all sorts of things and weather  
  Must be taken in together,  
  To make up a year  
  And a sphere.  
 And I think it no disgrace  
  To occupy my place.  
 If I'm not so large as you,  
  You are not so small as I,  
  And not half so spry.  
 I'll not deny you make  
  A very pretty squirrel track;  
  Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;  
 If I cannot carry forests on my back,  
  Neither can you crack a nut.’