Chinese Poems Translated by A.Z. Foreman

Poems Found in Translation: “Li Bai: Seeing a Friend Off (From Chinese)” plus 1 more

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Li Bai: Seeing a Friend Off (From Chinese) Posted: 09 Aug 2016 07:49 AM PDT Li Bai wrote this poem in 754 while saying goodbye to a good friend in Xuanzheng. The Shuiyang River still encircles what remains of the city's east wall. Seeing a Friend Off By Li Bai Translated by A.Z. Foreman Beyond the north wall　 dark green mountains stretch   　Round the east city　 the clear white river flows1 Once we two 　have parted in this place 　Lone tumbleweed ã€€has thousands of miles to blow A drifting cloud:　the mind of a traveler     ã€€ 　Sinking sun:　the mood of old friends going We wave our hands　taking leave from here　 　Our hesitant horses ã€€in parting neigh and moan Notes: 1- Chinese cities were usually protected by two sets of walls: an inner one, made of stone, and an outer rampart made of rammed earth. Kept between these two was enough farmland to keep the town supplied with food in the event of a siege. It was customary for friends to say their goodbyes at the outer rampart. The Original: Han Characters　 送友人　 ã€€ 李白　　 青山橫北郭，　　 白水繞東城，　　 此地一為別，　　 孤蓬萬里征. ã€€ã€€ 浮雲遊子意，　 落日故人情，　　 揮手自茲去，　　 蕭蕭班馬鳴。　　 Medieval Chinese　 sùng1b ghóu3b nyen3b lí3d beik2a tsheing4 sran2b ghweing2a pek1 kwak1      beik2a sywí3c nyàu3 tung1b dzyeing3b tshí3b drì3c et3by ghwi3bx bat3bx kuo1 bung1b màn3a lí3d tsyeing3b bou3b ghwen3a you3b tsí3d Ã¬3d lak1 nyet3b kùo1 nyen3b dzeing3b hwi3a syóu3b dzì3c tsi3d khùo3b sau4 sau4 pan2a má2 meing3a Modern Chinese　 Sòng yÇ’urén　　 Libái.　　 QÄ«ngshān héng bÄ›i guō,　　 Báishuǐ rào dōngchéng,　　 Cǐdì yÄ« wéi bié,　　 GÅ« péng wàn lǐ zhÄ“ng;　　 Fúyún yóuzǐ yì,　　 Luòrì gùrén qíng,　　 HuÄ«shÇ’u zì zÄ« qù,　　 Xiāoxiāo bān mÇŽmíng.　　

Li Bai: Gazing on the Ruins at Yue (From Chinese) Posted: 09 Aug 2016 07:46 AM PDT Gazing on the Ancient Ruins at Yue  By Li Bai Translated by A.Z. Foreman The king of Yue who conquered Wu　returned in a parade His noble men at arms came home　robed in rich brocade Ladies in waiting numerous　as flowers filled the Spring Palace Where now there are only partridges　that take to the air and fade The Original: 越中覽古 李白 越王勾踐破吳歸， 義士還家盡錦衣。 宮女如花滿春殿， 只今惟有鷓鴣飛。