Meng Haoran

On a northern peak among white clouds
You have found your hermitage of peace;
And now, as I climb this mountain to see you,
High with the wildgeese flies my heart.
...

I awake light-hearted this morning of spring,
Everywhere round me the singing of birds
But now I remember the night, the storm,
And I wonder how many blossoms were broken.
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Preparing me chicken and rice, old friend,
You entertain me at your farm.
We watch the green trees that circle your village
And the pale blue of outlying mountains.
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Spring sleep not wake dawn
Everywhere hear cry bird
Night come wind rain sound
Flower fall know how many
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Asleep in spring I did not heed the dawn
Till the birds broke out singing everywhere.
Last night, in the clamour of wind and rain, How many flowers have fallen
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Slow and reluctant, I have waited
Day after day, till now I must go.
How sweet the road-side flowers might be
If they did not mean good-bye, old friend.
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Mountain glow sudden west set
Pond moon gradually east up
Loose hair enjoy evening cool
Open window lie idle spacious
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Move boat moor mist islet
Sun set person sorrow new
Land vast heaven low tree
River clear moon near person
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The mountain-light suddenly fails in the west,
In the east from the lake the slow moon rises.
I loosen my hair to enjoy the evening coolness
And open my window and lie down in peace.
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Here in the Eighth-month the waters of the lake
Are of a single air with heaven,
And a mist from the Yun and Meng valleys
Has beleaguered the city of Youzhou.
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While worldly matters take their turn,
Ancient, modern, to and fro,
Rivers and mountains are changeless in their glory
And still to be witnessed from this trail.
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Quiet end what wait
Day day must go return
Wish seek fragrant grass go
Grieve with old friend separated
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How gladly I would seek a mountain
If I had enough means to live as a recluse!
For I turn at last from serving the State
To the Eastern Woods Temple and to you, my master.
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With monkeys whimpering on the shadowy mountain,
And the river rushing through the night,
And a wind in the leaves along both banks,
And the moon athwart my solitary sail,
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Lofting sail a thousand miles
I could not find a famous mountain.
I moor my boat outside Hsuan-yang
to gaze at last at Hsiang-lu peak.
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South go the wildgesse, for leaves are now falling,
And the water is cold with a wind from the north.
I remember my home; but the Xiang River's curves
Are walled by the clouds of this southern country.
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While my little boat moves on its mooring of mist,
And daylight wanes, old memories begin....
How wide the world was, how close the trees to heaven,
And how clear in the water the nearness of the moon!
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Jingzhou Dongwu mutual meet water for place
You go spring river now wide
Sunset travel sail where moor
End of sky one look break person heart
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Tree shed goose south cross
North wind river on cold
My home Xiang water bend
Far distance Chu cloud edge
Home tears travel in exhausted
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One hillock often wish lie
Three times hardship without money
North land not my wish
East forest think my master
...