(712-770 / Gong County / China)

poet Tu Fu
#173 on top 500 poets
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On a Prospect of T'ai-shan

How is one to describe this king of mountains? Throught the whole of Ch'i and
Lu one never loses sight of its greenness. In it the Creator has concentrated
all that is numinous and beautiful. Its northern and southern slopes divide the
dawn from the dark. The layered clouds begin at the climber's heaving chest,
and homing birds fly suddenly within range of his straining eyes. One day I
must stand on top of its highest peak and at a single glance see all the other
mountains grown tiny beneath me.

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


Read poems about / on: beautiful, dark, lost

Comments about this poem (On a Prospect of T'ai-shan by Tu Fu )

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  • George Herquet (5/11/2009 6:11:00 PM)

    This poem, #11 on the list, and #8 are the SAME poem, but translated by two different people. I prefer #11, especially 'the layered clouds begin at the climber's heaving chest'; how vivid!

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  • Raine Wang (4/2/2007 10:42:00 AM)

    Who is the translator of the poems by Tu FU?

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