(712-770 / Gong County / China)

poet Tu Fu
#167 on top 500 poets
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What do you think this poem is about?

Full Moon

Above the tower -- a lone, twice-sized moon.
On the cold river passing night-filled homes,
It scatters restless gold across the waves.
On mats, it shines richer than silken gauze.

Empty peaks, silence: among sparse stars,
Not yet flawed, it drifts. Pine and cinnamon
Spreading in my old garden . . . All light,
All ten thousand miles at once in its light!

Submitted: Saturday, May 26, 2001
Edited: Saturday, May 26, 2001


Read poems about / on: river, silence, moon, light, night, star

Comments about this poem (Full Moon by Tu Fu )

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  • Tim Stensloff (4/2/2012 9:39:00 PM)

    Tu Fu is an absolute master. It's criminal how underlooked he is in the Western literary world.

    2 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
  • Daniel Hinkson (4/2/2011 11:39:00 AM)

    Captivating words of beauty

    2 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
  • Terence George Craddock (4/2/2010 2:14:00 PM)

    'Above the tower - a lone, twice-sized moon.' Interesting, a China Moon, so surreal with implications, in translation, rich with original observed meaning.
    The moon draws out every possible landscape, every possible culture, as viewed from upon planet earth. It would be interesting to know the context of this poem. The tower, the gardens location?
    'Spreading in my old garden... All light,
    All ten thousand miles at once in its light! '

    And the context of the miles? I wonder which of the possibilities I consider is the closest. Any experts out there?

    2 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
  • Fiona Lochhead (4/2/2010 7:18:00 AM)

    This is just beautiful....I am transported!

    1 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • JOSEPH POEWHIT (4/2/2010 4:57:00 AM)

    Amazing how the moon has captivated man's life. Inspiration from love Ecstasy to full moon omens of lunacy. Yet, GOD created it.

    1 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Ramesh T A (4/2/2010 2:41:00 AM)

    The panoramic view of Moon broadens on and on till the end of the poem! Quite interesting poem to read!

    1 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Indira Renganathan (4/2/2010 1:24:00 AM)

    Very picturesque and enjoyable poem

    1 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Kevin Straw (4/2/2009 7:33:00 AM)

    Even translated this is a wonderful poem. It evokes in me exactly what it purports to communicate - I find myself and an ancient Chinese poet at one. I google: 'Tu Fu, (712–770) was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty. Along with Li Bai (Li Po) , he is frequently called the greatest of the Chinese poets.' I must read more of him.

    2 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
  • Michael Pruchnicki (4/2/2008 1:27:00 PM)

    Concentrate on the gorgeous imagery! You can almost see
    the painting of the tower on the cold river and the moon
    shining over all - like a Chinese or Japanese tapestry!

    1 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Mark Nwagwu (4/2/2008 3:09:00 AM)

    very insightful poem filled with the brillianct light that only a twice-sized moon can spread in our gardens of dark-filled hearts

    1 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
Read all 13 comments »

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