On the Trail in Mao Mountain Sent to Xíng Jūnzhī, West Lake The Lord floats on a fairy raft, going with the evening wind, I ascend the painted walls, entering among the clouds. Common as the moon on the horizon is, it’s different viewed from the mountainside overlooking the water. Mǎ Rúyù 馬如玉 茅山道中送邢君之西湖 郎泛仙槎趁晚風 妾乘油壁入雲中 尋常一樣天邊月 臨水登山望不同

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Consort Yang Hearing a thin strain of bells, he recalls the old vows. Her mortal life has ended; his life goes on. Though the Fairy Mountain surpasses the heart of the palace in felicity, There is one there who welcomes the wizard from the capital. Cài Lùzhī Qing dynasty 蔡鹿芝 清人 楊妃 聽到淋鈴了舊盟 此生已負況他生 仙山較勝深宮樂 莫遣洪都道士迎

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Seeing You Off The silver lamp’s flame is low, the gold wine-urn at rest. I want to express the sorrow of parting, but my tongue is like a knot. Tonight the wind groans, and frost spreads. Tomorrow, we’ll suddenly see yellow leaves. Cài Rùn Qing dynasty 蔡閏 清 送別 銀燈燄短金罍歇 欲語離情舌若結 今夜蕭蕭一陣霜 來朝馬上看黃葉

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Sent Out Last year news from my lord came from the river reach of Chu, this year likewise word came down from Yangzhou. Alas I can’t be like the white gull, following my lord’s boat wherever it casts off. Cài Héngyīng 蔡珩英 寄外 去歲聞郎楚水游 今年又說下揚州 無緣得似白鷗鳥 隨着郎舟到處投

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The Snow Clears Up Twitterings of the frost-nipped sparrows heralds a clear dawn. The morning sun’s red reflection is bright on the window. Deep in the forest, the wind has surely thinned out the plum blossoms. In the old house the cold increases, the paper windows become transparent. The weary wanderer returns at the end of his journey on the back of a donkey from afar. The traveler set out in the beginning on a horse with light hooves. Leaving the small pavilion, he stops for a while to take in the view: The same familiar green mountains surrounding the old city. Cáo Wǒwén Qing dynasty 曹我聞 清 雪霽 凍雀喧喧報曉晴 朝曦紅影上窗明 深林風定梅花瘦 老屋寒添紙帳清 吟客末歸驢背遠 旅人初發馬蹄輕 朅來小閣閑憑眺 依舊青山繞故城

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Ekphrastic Poem Green peaks thick with layers and layers of mist and forests, Yellow Bud Pavilion resting on a brook. One suspects that the recesses of the white clouds hold a fairyland. Weary of reading, I burn some incense and lie down to let my mind wander. Fàn Jǐngsì Ming dynasty 范景姒 明 題畫 翠嶂烟林曡復稠 黃芽亭子枕溪流 白雲深處疑仙境 讀倦焚香且臥遊

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To the Tune of ‘Longing’: Sent with Regrets Eyebrows painted dark, Eyebrows painted light, Ten fingers covering a robe dyed with green clouds. Returning through the Witch Mountains in the rain— Witch Mountains high, Witch Mountains low… With this evening’s driving rain my love won’t return. Alone in this empty room, who am I keeping watch for? Wú Èrniáng Tang dynasty 吳二娘 唐 長相思令﹕寄恨 深黛眉 淺黛眉 十指籠葱雲染衣 巫山行雨歸 巫山高 巫山低 暮雨瀟瀟郞不歸 空房獨守誰

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Chén Shū Qing dynasty Inscribed on My Own Painting of Okra, Presented to Dowager Zou The leaves it puts forth could be judged green jade, Its flowers unfold to add pale gold. There doesn’t exist a powder or rouge That can of itself in the sun [...] 陳書 清 題自畫秋葵 贈鄒太夫人 葉出裁靑玉 花舒染淡金 不存脂粉態 自有向陽[...]

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Ekphrastic Poem A winding brook, clear and shallow, a few bamboo-fenced fishermen’s huts. At the riverhead, the green blush of spring willows, a pleasing arrangement of carp reaching for their fresh sprigs. ~Biàn Shūyuán Qing dynasty 卞淑媛 清 題畫 一曲溪流淸且淺 幾家籬落釣人居 溪頭春柳靑靑色 攀得新條貫鯉魚

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Lady Plantain Scholar Untitled What is the meaning of this solitary pacing? The sound of the goat-cart has already passed the tinkling horse-bells up the hill. A golden house with the spring breeze swirling within doesn’t compare to plantain leaves covered in rain and dew. 芭蕉士女 無題 獨立徘徊意若何 羊車聲已過鑾坡 黄金屋裡春風囘 不及芭蕉雨露多

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Snow Across the land overnight, the earth and sky have become one color, Sunlight and shadow have swapped places. People love falling petals, praise the six-petaled snow-flower; I don’t care for fluttering catkins, or the time of the silkworms’ three sleeps. Silver baubles billow just beyond upturned eaves, Crumbs of jade spiral down in front of buildings. Pouring a libation in the inner chamber won’t go amiss; It is a model of holy virtue, and portends a good year. ~Yáng Xuě’é Qing dynasty 楊雪娥 清 雪 乾坤一夕地同天 白日無端影倒懸 人愛落花誇六出 我懀飛絮又三眠 銀裝裊裊飛檐外 玉屑霏霏繞座前 酹酒深閨無別祝 先爲聖德兆豐年 Footnote: "three sleeps": Silkworm caterpillars were said to molt three times as they grew. They stay still for a few days before molting, so that was referred to as their three sleeps. Silkworms hatch in late spring and grow through the summertime.

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