DAILY PHOTO: Murals Around West Lake [Hồ Tây], Hanoi

A lotus blossom themed mural on a building on the east side of West Lake (Hồ Tây) in Hanoi, Vietnam.
A cherry blossom mural on a wall near Hồ Tây (West Lake) in Hanoi, Vietnam.
A mural of a calligrapher on a wall near the southeastern tip of West Lake (Hồ Tây) in Hanoi, Vietnam.

DAILY PHOTO: Chùa Kim Liên

DAILY PHOTO: Trấn Quốc Pagoda

“Rain on Lotus” by Yang Wanli [w/ Audio]

Asleep on a leaf beneath lotus blooms,
Their fragrance floats across the misty lake.
Sudden rain - taps upon the canopy;
Its sound snaps me from sleep to wide awake!

The lotus is beaded with rain droplets --
Like pearls, drops roll together and apart;
The clear blobs coalesce like mercury,
Dripping to the river... back to their start.

“Wine Spring” by Pan Lang [w/ Audio]

I remember viewing the West Lake
While leaning on a pagoda rail.
The boats all clustered in threes or twos.
The islets under deep Autumn blues.

Flute song arose from among the cattails.
And a line of white birds - overhead - sailed.
I planned to fix my old fishing pole,
but clouds on water had my mind & soul.

“Mulberry Picking” [採桑子] by Ouyang Xiu [w/ Audio]

West Lake is beautiful from a small boat.
Green water wends its way through the lotus,
Sweet grass grows thickly all along the bank,
Faint music wafts from unknown points ashore.

When the wind quits, the Lake is glassy smooth;
The boat is perfectly still for a beat,
Then its movement is betrayed by ripples
And startled waterfowls' furious flapping.

Note: The title “Gathering Mulberry Leaves” was used by Xu Yuanchong for his translation. The Chinese title is: 採桑子 (Cǎi Sāngzǐ)

“Picking Mulberries” by Ouyang Xiu [w/ Audio]

Adrift on West Lake in a wine-laden, colorful skiff:
As flutes play fast and lutes, deftly
And a jade cup circuits swiftly,
The boat's calm rocking lulls the drunk into sleep.

Thin clouds seem to float right under the rudderless boat.
The water's blue matches the sky's,
As lake to sky and back move eyes,
"Do the clouds above match those that in the water float?"