The thirsty Earth soaks up the Rain, And drinks, and gapes for drink again. The Plants suck in the Earth, and are With constant drinking fresh and faire. The Sea itself, which one would think Should have but little need of Drink, Drinks ten thousand Rivers up, So fill'd that they o'erflow the Cup. The busy Sun (and one would guess By 's drunken fiery face no less) Drinks up the Sea, and when he's done, The Moon and Stars drink up the Sun. They drink and dance by their own light, They drink and revel all the night. Nothing in Nature 's Sober found, But an eternal Health goes round. Fill up the Bowl then, fill it high, Fill all the Glasses there, for why Should every creature drink but I, Why, Man of Morals, tell me why?
Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.
One had a lovely face, And two or three had charm, But charm and face were in vain Because the mountain grass Cannot but keep the form Where the mountain hare has lain.
Thousands of willow twigs beyond my bower sway; They try to retain spring, but she won't stay For long and goes away. In vernal breeze the willow down still wafts with grace; It tries to follow spring to find her dwelling place. Hills and rills greened all over, I hear cuckoos sing; Feeling no grief, why should they give me a sharp sting? With wine cup in hand, I ask spring who won't reply. When evening grizzles, A cold rain drizzles.
Translation: Xu Yuanchong [translator]. 2021. Deep, Deep the Courtyard. [庭院深深.] Cite Publishing: Kuala Lumpur, pp. 146-147.
From our low seat beside the fire Where we have dozed and dreamed and watched the glow Or raked the ashes, stopping so We scarcely saw the sun or rain Above, or looked much higher Than this same quiet red or burned-out fire. To-night we heard a call, A rattle on the window-pane, A voice on the sharp air, And felt a breath stirring our hair, A flame within us: Something swift and tall Swept in and out and that was all. Was it a bright or dark angel? Who can know? It left no mark upon the snow, But suddenly it snapped the chain Unbarred, flung wide the door Which will not shut again; And so we cannot sit here anymore. We must arise and go: The world is cold without And dark and hedged about With mystery and enmity and doubt, But we must go Though yet we do not know Who called, or what marks we shall leave upon the snow.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.
Old trees with tangled hanging tassels by a deserted temple open to the river. Rain, rain threw down the clay statues and wind blew down this ancient building. Wild birds nest in dusty shrines, fishermen hold a bamboo lottery cup. About to play the tune "Mountain Ghost," I stop: the Verses of Chu make me too sad.
Translation: Barnstone, Tony and Ping, Chou. 2005. The Anchor Book of Chinese Poetry: From Ancient to Contemporary. New York: Anchor Books.
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