Chinese Music & Tang Poetry

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Down the blue mountain in the evening, 

Moonlight was my homeward escort. 

Looking back, I saw my path 

Lie in levels of deep shadow.... 

I was passing the farm-house of a friend, 

When his children called from a gate of thorn 

And led me twining through jade bamboos 

Where green vines caught and held my clothes. 

And I was glad of a chance to rest 

And glad of a chance to drink with my friend.... 

We sang to the tune of the wind in the pines; 

And we finished our songs as the stars went down, 

When, I being drunk and my friend more than happy, 

Between us we forgot the world. 

~ Li Bai

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From a pot of wine among the flowers 

I drank alone. There was no one with me -- 

Till, raising my cup, I asked the bright moon 

To bring me my shadow and make us three. 

Alas, the moon was unable to drink 

And my shadow tagged me vacantly; 

But still for a while I had these friends 

To cheer me through the end of spring.... 

I sang. The moon encouraged me. 

I danced. My shadow tumbled after. 

As long as I knew, we were boon companions. 

And then I was drunk, and we lost one another. 

...Shall goodwill ever be secure? 

I watch the long road of the River of Stars. 

~ Li Bai

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It is almost as hard for friends to meet 

As for the morning and evening stars. 

Tonight then is a rare event, 

Joining, in the candlelight, 

Two men who were young not long ago 

But now are turning grey at the temples. 

...To find that half our friends are dead 

Shocks us, burns our hearts with grief. 

We little guessed it would be twenty years 

Before I could visit you again. 

When I went away, you were still unmarried; 

But now these boys and girls in a row 

Are very kind to their father's old friend. 

They ask me where I have been on my journey; 

And then, when we have talked awhile, 

They bring and show me wines and dishes, 

Spring chives cut in the night-rain 

And brown rice cooked freshly a special way. 

...My host proclaims it a festival, 

He urges me to drink ten cups -- 

But what ten cups could make me as drunk 

As I always am with your love in my heart? 

...Tomorrow the mountains will separate us; 

After tomorrow-who can say?

~ Du Fu

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I dismount from my horse and I offer you wine, 

And I ask you where you are going and why. 

And you answer: "I am discontent 

And would rest at the foot of the southern mountain. 

So give me leave and ask me no questions. 

White clouds pass there without end."

~ Wang Wei

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Now that the sun has set beyond the western range, 

Valley after valley is shadowy and dim.... 

And now through pine-trees come the moon and the chill of evening, 

And my ears feel pure with the sound of wind and water 

Nearly all the woodsmen have reached home, 

Birds have settled on their perches in the quiet mist.... 

And still -- because you promised -- I am waiting for you, waiting, 

Playing lute under a wayside vine.

~ Meng Haoran

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In Chinese literature, the Tang period (618-907) is considered the golden age of Chinese poetry. Tang Shi San Bai Shou [300 Tang Poems] is a compilation of poems from this period made around 1763 by Heng-tang-tui-shi [Sun Zhu] of the Qing dynasty.

English Translation : Witter Bynner

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