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ARTS AND CULTURE

Random thoughts

  • 29 April 2006

Random thoughts Yang Weizhen (1296–1370) my west neighbour cried over a sudden family death last night and my east neighbour is upset by a dismissal from the officialdom today one does not know what’s going to happen tomorrow so how can you let your glass of wine run dry?   Mountains deep and shallow Yang Ji (1326–1378) chinaberry flowers wet with a soft drizzle loquat ripe on every tree in a southerly i go for a slow walk and do not remember the mountains deep and shallow orioles keeping me company all the way home

Fishing song Zhang Zhihe (730–782)

white egrets are flying in front of the xisai mountain where waters flow with peach flowers and fat mandarin fish in a black bamboo hat and a green straw cape one does not want to go home against the slanting wind and rain

Moon like a hook Li Yu (ca. 937–978)

wordless, i climb up to the west balcony the moon like a hook a clear autumn locked up in the deep lonely courtyard of wutong trees

unscissorable and un-sort-out-able is what one feels when saying farewell a heart of sorrow  

Missing my friend Meng Haoran (ca. 690–ca. 740) the mountain light suddenly gone in the west the pond moon gradually rises in the east my hair let down, i enjoy the evening cool relaxing in the open space with an open door a lotus wind issues fragrant airs and the bamboo drips clear-sounding dews i’m about to get my qin out and play it but realize my closest friend is not here to listen thus i miss you my friend and wish we could meet in a midnight dream

 

Drinking alone with the moon Li Bai (701–762) a pot of liquor amidst flowers i drink alone without friends i invite the moon, cup in hand there are three of us, with my shadow but the moon little knows how to drink and the shadow just follows me about their presence so temporary i shall seek pleasure when the spring comes as i sing the moon is pacing up and down and as i dance my shadow swishes around awake, we have fun together drunken, we go our separate ways we forget ourselves so much in our mutual enjoyment we can only hope to meet again in a far milky way heaven

  Cold night Jie Xisi (1274–1344) sparse stars frozen in a frosty sky over the thin forest wet by a flowing moonlight i stay awake in an empty hall listening to an occasional leaf fall

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