November 19, 2004 - 1:19 a.m.

       Wang Wei
       Passing By The Temple of Heaped Fragance

        Not knowing the Temple of Heaped Fragrance,
        Many miles have I passed through cloudy peaks

        Amongst ancient trees, deserted paths-
        Somewhere in the deep mountains a bell tolls.

        While springs choke on vicious rocks
        A sunbeam cools on green pines.

        Dusk, and by a secluded pool
        I meditate, battling my demons.


      王维
       过香枳寺
        不知香枳寺，数里入云峰。
        古木无人径，深山何处钟。
        泉声咽危石，日色冷青松。
        薄暮空潭曲，安禅制毒龙。

........       .          . ..


        Li Shangyin

        Untitled
         Together it was hard - it's harder apart;
[1]      The East Wind fell, flowers curled.
[2]      Spring silkworms spin until death,
[3]      Wax candles cry into ash. 

[4]      Greying hair regrets the morning mirror,
[5]      Moonlight must chill her night singing.
[6]      Fairy Mountain isn't far from here -
[7]      O busy Bluebird, find out what you can.


     无题
       相见时难别亦难，东风无力百花残。
       春蚕到死丝方尽，蜡炬成灰泪始干。
       晓镜但愁云鬓改，夜吟应觉月光寒。
       蓬莱此去无多路，青鸟殷勤为探看。



[1] East Wind: spring wind.  I think a 'weak east wind' indicates the end of Spring.  I guess there are loads of flowers that dont survive beyond spring.

[2] Silkworm's 'thread'(si) sounds like 'to 
ponder'(si).  Indicates that poet's thoughts for 
the one he loves won't stop until death.

[3] 'A candle's tears are only dry when it has 
burnt to ash'.  im unhappy and only death will 
stop the pain?

[4,5]This is the woman who Li Shangyin is 
thinking of.  He portrays her as pretty 
depressed too.

[6]Fairy Mountain: Originally Peng Lai 
Mountain.  A legendary mountain home of 
immortals, beyond the sea.  Poet pretends this 
is where the girl is.

[7]Blue(green)bird: Legendary messenger for the 
Queen Mother of the West, an immortal.


More Li Shangyin:
http://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~yuenck/li/

       无题
       相见时难别亦难，东风无力百花残。
       春蚕到死丝方尽，蜡炬成灰泪始干。
       晓镜但愁云鬓改，夜吟应觉月光寒。
       蓬莱此去无多路，青鸟殷勤为探看。

 
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