XII,1 during the third day of the first month of 765 i return to the shore of the huan hua xi river and write the following verses to send to my colleagues in the headquarters at cheng du fu
XII,2 i build myself a house
XII,3 respectfully i send this poem to imperial counsellor gao shi
XII,4 spring in the village on the shore of the stream (1 of 5)
XII,5 spring in the village on the shore of the stream (2 of 5)
XII,6 spring in the village on the shore of the stream (3 of 5)
XII,7 spring in the village on the shore of the stream (4 of 5)
XII,8 spring in the village on the shore of the stream (5 of 5)
XII,9 at the end of spring
XII,10 in the evening i climb the bell tower of the si an closter, i send a poem to pei di, tenth of his clan
XII,11 three shortened stanzas (1 of 3)
XII,12 three shortened stanzas (2 of 3)
XII,13 three shortened stanzas (3 of 3)
XII,14 the secluded life
XII,15 at the end of the world
XII,16 lament for the machilus tree uprooted by the storm
XII,17 joy at the rain
XII,18 the song: “have no doubts about me”
XII,19 the song “high in the sky”
XII,20 i want to leave si-chuan
XII,21 i spend the night at the rest station at qing xi, and remember with reverence my old friend ministerial secretary zhang zhi xu, fifteenth of his clan
XII,22 a song for my crazy older brother
XII,23 the joy of rain
XII,24 i feast at the party on the east tower of the imperial governor man from rong zhou
XII,25 in yu zhou i wait in vain for censor yan to arrive. i wish to travel through the yang zi gorge to the east
XII,26 i throw off my gloom
XII,27 i hear that the imperial counselor gao shi has died
XII,28 i enjoy a banquet in the home of my nephew, the governor of zhong zhou
XII,29 the temple of da yu
XII,30 i write these verses on the wall of my hermitage in the long xing cloister
XII,31 i weep as the coffin of minister yan wu is taken back to chang an
XII,32 i proceed on the boat trip
XII,33 traveling at night writing my feelings
XII,34 i remember a dead friend
XII,35 the song of my straw hut’s roof destroyed by the autumn wind
XII,36 the moon on the fifteenth night of the eighth month (1 of 2)
XII,37 the moon on the fifteenth night of the eighth month (2 of 2)
XII,38 on the ninth day of the ninth month i attend a banquet given in yu nan by cheng, 18th of his clan
XII,39 rain
XII,40 the yang zi (1 of 2)
XII,41 the yang zi (2 of 2)
XII,42 respectfully i receive a personally written letter from the prince of wan zhong
XII,43 the rubstone for ink of the censor ping
XII,44 three poems, each of three rhymes (1 of 3)
XII,45 three poems, each of three rhymes (2 of 3)
XII,46 three poems, each of three rhymes (3 of 3)
XII,47 the generals (1 of 5)
XII,48 the generals (2 of 5)
XII,49 the generals (3 of 5)
XII,50 the generals (4 of 5)
XII,51 the generals (5 of 5)
XII,52 i hear the coffin of the late minister fang guan from lang zhou is broken open, and being brought to lo yang for final burial (1 of 2)
XII,53 i hear the coffin of the late minister fang guan from lang zhou is broken open, and being brought to lo yang for final burial (2 of 2)
XII,54 i take leave of the scholar chang who is appointed to the royal court
XII,55 recently i heard…
XII,56 i express grief over the invasion of the turfan and uighurs under bu gu huai en
XII,57 zheng, official of the crown prince’s household, returns to kui zhou from his exile in shi zhou
XII,58 i send this poem to governor pei mian of shi zhou
XII,59 song of the damascene sword of chao, cavalry inspector of jing nan, president of the tai chang si
XII,60 the two crested falcons of cavalry inspector wang
XII,61 i respectfully congratulate the prince of yang cheng jun on the appointment of his mother who has been honored by the imperial dispensation of the princess of deng guo
XII,62 deep in winter
XII,63 the beginning of day (1 of 2)
XII,64 the beginning of day (2 of 2)
XII,65 the first day of the twelfth month (1 of 3) (january 16, 776)
XII,66 the first day of the twelfth month (2 of 3) (january 16, 776)
XII,67 the first day of the twelfth month (3 of 3) (january 16, 776)
XII,68 snow again
XII,69 i accompany censor wang to a farewell banquet at fang sheng chi pond in east si chuan
during the third day of the first month of 765 i return to the shore of the huan hua xi river and write the following verses to send to my colleagues in the headquarters at cheng du fu
my straw hut stands out in the country hard upon a bamboo grove
along my further hedge the river runs toward cheng du fu
my home made wine still tastes raw since it was made last month
the gulls swim in the stream and make their mating sounds of spring
my neighbors visit and cut medicinal herbs from my garden
my little boys are encouraged to look through my books
this old white head does not belong in headquarters
i deeply deplore the loss of freedom in my life while i am there
murphy deciding which way is up, which way down
von zach XII,1
i owned a grove of bamboo which grew by the river
it was cool within it during even the hottest summer days
its shade extended far into the flowing river
its pointed tops reached to the edge of the moving clouds
because i felt there might be demons living in this grove
i did not feel badly when it was thinned and shrubs added here and there
just to the east of this grove was a favorable place for a house
i felt if i built there the view of mountains and stream would sustain me
already i have spent six wonderful years here with the bamboo
now, finally, i have ordered a thousand stalks cut down
now an unusual brilliance of sun lights up my cottage
the rushing of the huan hua river lies openly before my gaze
i do not wish my refurbished hall to radiate its newly pristine beauty
but now my naive mind will allow me to walk out of my hut with joy
although the grass and reeds for the roof are but newly attached
i feel invigorated and much less ill than i was before
here now i can achieve my rest and ease, i am fulfilled
my sense of well being is returning and i am eating more
now that the hatchets have ceased their noise
i will spend my days in the delightful joys of idleness
murphy having repainted his apartment, and glad the ordeal is over
von zach XII,2
respectfully i send this poem to imperial counsellor gao shi
many years have passed since we were together
then we walked on the shore of the wen river in shan dong
you have risen quickly within the official ranks
and i had no way that i could follow up that ladder
when before you commanded the troops of qu and shu
you weren’t able to show the fullness of your talents
in the literary arts i rate you in the highest rank
higher even than cao zhi or liu zheng
now the court has a man who speaks his piece urgently like ji yin
military leaders in chang an remember you as a second lian po
the spring here at the end of the world in si chuan saddens this old man
far from chang an my tears for our parting fall in the floods of the jin river
murphy estranged from his boon companions of eld
von zach XII,3
spring in the village on the shore of the stream (1 of 5)
in all villages farming is the main occupation
everywhere now the rivers are in their spring floods
in my life i have traveled far in this world
the change of seasons makes me reflect on my dwindling years
i have always praised my beloved straw hut in my poetry
and a peach blossom spring is also a trigger for song
but prolonged riots have made a mockery of my being useful
and i still wander aimlessly without purpose
murphy sensing the end of his effectual life draws near
von zach XII,4
spring in the village on the shore of the stream (2 of 5)
i came to the three districts of si chuan from a great distance
and have spent six useless years within its confines
fortunately i have met a an old friend here, the governor yan wu
we have shared our love of poetry in the thick woods and springs by my hut
because my health has deteriorated a great deal i neglect my appearance
because of my far walks i have worn holes in my shoes
but i am not hiding behind the hedge round my house
i enjoy exploring the stream and watching the sky to my heart’s content
murphy keeping on keeping on
von zach XII,5
spring in the village on the shore of the stream (3 of 5)
around the straw hut i have planted a green profusion of bamboo
and the peaches i introduced show their red blossoms everywhere
the image of the moon in my stone mirror stirs my heart
the winds from the snowy mountains of tibet stimulate my face
i have used my red paintbrush in the service of commissioner yan wu
i received a silver seal of office as an old man
how could he have known my teeth are now falling out
i am ashamed to have my name stain the list of officials
murphy soaking his bum left knee in a hot bath
von zach XII,6
spring in the village on the shore of the stream (4 of 5)
in spite of my illness i wear the red scarf of office
now i return to my straw hut to rest and walk about the purple moss
i wish to spend the rest of my life behind the gate of my home
at headquarters i am ashamed before my younger, more gifted colleagues
gossamer summer threads hang beside the swallows‘ nests in the sun
light glitters on the waves where the gulls are swimming
my neighbors send me turtles and fish for my dinner
they ask whether they can come around to see me more often
murphy finding the world doesn’t wish to let him go away so easily as he might wish
von zach XII,7
spring in the village on the shore of the stream (5 of 5)
wang can was saddened by the bands of rebels who overran chang an
in his middle years jia yi was recalled from exile by han wen di
the first climbed his tower and produced a masterpiece
the second finally achieved honor after late vindication
the dwellings of both have been praised in the records of noted men
yet in spite of their high talents they are recorded not as officials but as private men
in my early life when i first studied history i revered their example
now i am again drawn to reflect on their situations with great sympathy
murphy contemplating the closing of the circle of his life
von zach XII, 8
blossoms and catkins become old too quickly
the red flowers and white spikes become a messy tangle
as the days lengthen one hears only birds, no guests
at the end of spring i feel desolate in my poor hut
one hears repeatedly of the uprising in shen si
why is it that si chuan is spared this unrest
i cannot return to my old native country
the country here has become a protected encampment
murphy going stir crazy in his cramped apartment
von zach XII,9
in the evening i climb the bell tower of the si an closter, i send a poem to pei di, tenth of his clan
in the evening i lean on the balustrade of the bell tower
all around i see the tips of the snowy mountains
a priest comes briefly and leaves without speaking, the bell sounds
on the desolate town wall the reflection of the setting sun gradually dims
smoke hovers above the enclosed market place
in the gloaming it seems to become green and heavy
because of my many illnesses i am distressed
and spend most of my time embittered and alone
for my old friends seeing me is not pleasant
though i know that you think of this old poet with sympathy
and because i long to stroll together with you again
i am distanced from the thousand affairs that life entails
murphy forgetting to turn the stove off in his zeal to get back to the computer
von zach XII,10
three shortened stanzas (1 of 3)
i have heard many people in the mountains of si chuan
advocate spring as a proper time to take a trip by boat
if i summon all the strength left in my life
i might venture to see again the nine arms of the yang zi
murphy deciding it is time to have an adventure
von zach XII,11
three shortened stanzas (2 of 3)
in the mouth of the wen jiang is my water weir
my straw hut lies there west of the stone obelisk
by boat i often proceed to the temple of liu bei
there on the shore of the huan hua river i clean my medicinal herbs
murphy remembering they called the cherokee the river cult
von zach XII,12
three shortened stanzas (3 of 3)
it is a mistake to say the arrival of spring is always pleasant
often a wild storm will arrive filled with wind’s ferocity
it knocked the flowers down and spread them out onto the waters
it even upset the fishing boat which has sunk beneath the waves
murphy putting his plans on hold because of mother nature’s wrath
von zach XII,13
as i grow old i tend to withdraw from contact with people
the charms of my hermitage present themselves and i rest carefree
birds hop on the ground among the bamboo roots
turtles swim between the leaves of the water chestnuts
the harvest failed this year and i have no money to buy wine
so i work more diligently every day in my garden
alone in my seclusion i drink water instead of wine, and sing
i sing a long drawn out song and, disgruntled, smash my mug
murphy grumbling into his third stein of beer
von zach XII,14
at the end of the world an old man cannot find his way back
when the sun sinks he goes east to the shore of the big stream and cries
in long you amd he yuan the fields are let go fallow
tartan cavalry and turfan infantry penetrate into si chuan
river waves rise ever higher, great storms uproot the trees
ones sees vultures lead the way and storks and geese soon follow
nine times i have sent letters to the officials at luo yang
and they have not clarified my position for the last ten years
murphy baiting his hook for perch to pass the time
von zach XII,15
lament for the machilus tree uprooted by the storm
on the shore of the yang zi by my straw hut stood a machilus tree
old people in the village told me it was two hundred years old
i placed my house here especially because of this tree
in the fifth month i often listened there to the loud buzz of cicadas
but a whirlwind came from the southeast kicking up gigantic waves
the trunk of the old tree was attacked by loud thunder and rain
in the end the roots were torn from the earth, an act of the gods
i dearly loved this old tree with its shady area by the shore
travelers from town sheltered under its branches and its cool shade
strangers were always drawn to the sound of the wind in its leaves
now my breast is awash with bitter tears of regret
it lies now in the undergrowth like a felled tiger or slain dragon
now i don’t know if i can sing songs like i used to
my favorite place for singing my poetry was under its leaves
now my straw hut has lost much of its unique charm
i feel lost and forlorn in my most beloved of places
murphy snuffle deep in water when the tornado came whipping over the crest of grady’s hill
von zach XII,16
the spring has been dry, the heat oppressive
the light of the sun has been red like blood
the work in the fields has virtually stopped
and the clink of weapons is now often heard
the people of si chuan have been hard pressed by the troops
and the usually fertile ground could not be worked because of dryness
then suddenly last night rain came to the land around the yang zi
and the dry punishment of the sky was at once washed away
indeed the roots of the paddies are now awake to new life
though the smoke of the riots has not completely dissipated
would that the peaceful quiet of old should come again
and i could lose the agony of my anxious thoughts
dense masses of cloud surround the mountain tops
they show no sign of leaving the surrounding area
if only the thunder god could be controlled by me
and the rains could not only fertilize the land but end the rioting
murphy keeping water in the ice box to slake his summer thirst
von zach XII, 17
the song: “have no doubts about me”
although a full man i have achieved little in this life
and my head has already turned white in its ineptitude
my teeth have now almost all fallen out
everything about me is most unfortunate
i remember though when i handed in my three poetic descriptions
it was at a big state ceremony with the emperor at the palace
i was surprised at myself suddenly basking in fame
suddenly overnight i had become immensely famous
at that time i would be called to the hall of the secretarial division
and there the officials would stand in rows to watch me wield my brush
in those days my poetry could stir even the emperor
but now i live in poverty and am often hungry
and i shiver with fever through most of my days
yet in my old age i have managed to make a few young friends
there in the headquarters of the governor yan wu
now from a distance i send greetings and say farewell to all of you
i do not wish to be a clerk seeking the friendship of youth
when i know you would inevitably snicker at me behind my back
i have no reason to try to be better than any of you
so i send you this song, “have no doubts about me”
murphy renouncing all thoughts of becoming published
von zach XII,18
the peacock knew nothing of the horns of the bull
but as he drank from a cool spring he felt their disagreeable touch
you too can indulge the winds on the heights of the kun lun mountains
but you must watch out for the unknown horns of danger
by the river the pelicans shoo away the flitting swallows
believing mistakenly they wish to steal away their fish
and the swallow drops the mud in its beak in fear
and flies back ashamed to the safety of the nest in the eaves
han xuan di when he was still only a prince
was gored by the pressures of the people of shen si
bao qian was slandered by sheng meng zi
and eventually lost both his legs by amputation
old men must take seriously any mockery
but especially that of younger people
in the works of zhu ge liang one my find
that the value of assuaging is emphasized
any competent man strives for fame
and wishes it to last for a millennium
yet any who does not take heed of small differences
will be brought down and not become a great man
murphy carefully reading the yearly evaluation of his ogre of a boss
von zach XII,19
for five years i have wandered in the west of si chuan
i have even spent one year in the eastern district of zi zhou
and now i have a yearning to go where all passports are forbidden
to visit the region beyond the passes to the xia and xiang rivers
this eternal fighting has further whitened my hair
for the rest of my days i wish a quiet home like that of a white gull
achieving peace in this world falls on the shoulders of the first minister
why must i who does not serve feel so involved that i am brought to tears
murphy dreaming of a hermitage in the woods for the rest of his days
von zach XII,20
i spend the night at the rest station at qing xi, and remember with reverence my old friend ministerial secretary zhang zhi xu, fifteenth of his clan
my boat floats on the yang zi in the midst of many mountains
at sundown i find anchor on a deserted, desolate shore
my entire life has been one uninterrupted wandering
i wonder where have i ended up this time around
at the foot of the rocks there is a woods of green plane trees
birds and monkeys can be seen frolicking within
i stand there in the bright moonlight in silence
i am afraid of tigers and seek not to call attention to myself
in the middle of the night i think of my old friend zhang zhi xu
because of the rioting i haven’t visited him for a long time
our separation now has gone on far too long
perhaps i will be able to see him when i visit jing chu
murphy sleepless running over in his mind odd things needing being done
von zach XII,21
a song for my crazy older brother
my brother is only one year older than i
yet he sticks to the dao while i am merely simple minded
he considers wealth and respect mere passing clouds
while i desire fame and strive to gain power
in chang an one autumn it rained for ten straight days
the deep mud made the streets impassable
yet i and my colleagues rode on horseback one morning
it was early at the first cockcrow we passed the palaces of the dignitaries
the red gate was not yet opened
so we waited there shoulder to shoulder
meanwhile my older brother stretched his limbs on first waking
he walked out into the morning sun barefoot without a head scarf
his boy shouted and his girl cried because he ignored them
he only cared to cover his body with rough silk, and where to find food
this year he wished to see me and invited me to visit him at jia zhou
he promised strong wine and blossoms filling the entire house
there on his first floor we ate and drank, below the house proper
we regaled ourselves with both long and short songs
my brother follows the rule of eight parties in four seasons
his girl did a polite greeting for my wife, the boy the same for me
he still wears no headscarf nor any belt, and never washes his head or feet
my older brother is much like chao fu and xu you
he has always pursued truth with a joyful rage
and when the sun sets he cradles his head
and never has less than a deep, healthy sleep
i sing these verses for him, but he hears me not
murphy checking up on the clan as an old man visiting texas
von zach XII,22
in the southern empire of si chuan there has been a long drought
today, finally, clouds reach the yang zi and promise much rain
the air above is dark and humid, unbroken in its pregnant cover
finally a heavy rain begins throughout the breadth of the land
the nest swallows have all flown to the higher regions above the clouds
there in their colorful plumage they breed among the sharp crags
since evening the rush of rain has not slowed nor stopped
it will be the background thrum for a full night’s sleep
murphy in awe of the fickleness of nature
von zach XII,23
i feast at the party on the east tower of the imperial governor man from rong zhou
the marvelous scenery in the midst of this revelry surprises this old man
raises my spirits in an unusual way and leads to inspiration
i sit with the dignitaries close to the singing girls
the host and i are pleased with the quality of the pleasures provided
he commands the deep-green spring wine to be poured liberally
he tells the serving girls to peel the light-red li chis
yet even here on the high balcony my sad thoughts again intrude
for the women have begun to play sadly on their flutes
murphy deep in the slough of despond
von zach XII,24
in yu zhou i wait in vain for censor yan to arrive. i wish to travel through the yang zi gorge to the east
because i have heard that you have left the town of cheng du fu
i have been waiting for you here on the sandy shore of the yang zi
who would have thought that we would not meet here
we are like the clouds and rain who have been separated
i have been singing both slow and quick verses here in the land of wu
the river is deep from here to the fortress at bo di cheng
if my boat reaches the tower yi zhu guan in hu beh
i shall wait for you there so we can share the view together
murphy waiting impatiently for his dinner guest
von zach XII,25
i have heard people say that the wine made from yu nan rice
makes a person drunk when only one glass is imbibed
mounting a boat and getting drunk
these are no problem when in yu nan
now i wish to go down through the gorges of the yang zi
how many mugs of wine will i need to throw off my gloom
i have already procured rowers and a coxwain
i stand ready now to proceed on my way
the old polemen and the steerers know their stuff
we are beginning to make good progress
i have already set aside the money for their pay
soon i will be able to raise the wonderful wine of yu nan to my lips
murphy haggling with the wine-merchant for a case of his best sake’
von zach XII,26
i hear that the imperial counselor gao shi has died
i have seen gao shi no longer since he last returned to court
suddenly comes the news that an old commissioner from si chuan has died
without being able to fully utilize his talents he spent his time in the palace
one is reminded of yan hui and bu shang who preceded him
he admonished the emperor as did zhu yun who broke the red banister in the audience hall
my grief over his passing will have no end as long as white clouds appear in the sky
his excellent worth as a poet will also echo far into the future
the fact that he will seal no more poems deeply saddens his old friends
murphy once again perusing the obits in the harvard magazine
von zach XII,27
i enjoy a banquet in the home of my nephew, the governor of zhong zhou
my nephew has become the governor of zhong zhou
today he gives a banquet in this foreign land
as once did ruan ji one must visit the hall of one’s nephew
i rest in zhong zhou because of the dangers of my passage to kui zhou
the festival music inspires me and i sing a long drawn out sad song
i drink a lot and gradually lose my feelings of despond
once in the old country i danced with the scepter as did wang rong
now i am content to watch others dance in their joy
murphy contemplating the ultimate use of a cane for his bum left knee
von zach XII,28
the temple of da yu lies in the midst of desolate mountains
i arrive late with low rays from the setting sun, in a chill autumn wind
in the courtyard trees hang oranges and pomelos
on the old hoists on the walls serpents and dragons are painted
above are clouds which move about the bald rock outcroppings
a small stream rushes past a white sandy shore
i have always heard of the famous da yu and his marvelous works
the man who engineered the waterways to fashion the three regions of ba
murphy disappointed at the small size of the alamo
von zach XII,29
i write these verses on the wall of my hermitage in the long xing cloister
zhong zhou lies halfway within the three yang zi gorges
different towns and villages are high in the rocks within the clouds
in the small marketplace there is always a shortage of rice
the stalls close early from fear of robbers, and they close the city gates
the inhabitants show no compassion for the weary traveler
do not look for hospitality from such as these people
i am here in the cloister during my wanderings
i fear the tigers around and will rest here a while
murphy finding shelter from feral nature
von zach XII,30
i weep as the coffin of minister yan wu is taken back to chang an
the coffin in its white wrappings proceeds on its trip downstream
the specially prepared boat returns to the old capital at chang an
yan wu’s old mother still lives in good health as before
but his army has changed since his death and come into disarray
wind fills the sails of the boat carrying the coffin with the carved dragons
the distance between it and his former headquarters at cheng du fu grows
an entire day i wept beside the body until evening fell on the yang zi gorges
now after he has finally left me i recognize his true worth as my friend
murphy bereft and alone at news of his mother’s death
von zach XII,31
on the trip downstream the sails are furled and the waves become choppy
as we reach the rapids i roll up the curtains of my cabin to see the scenery
the marketplaces on the shore lie in deep shadows
the mountain clouds scud by as they bring their seasonal cold
the thick woods offer no paths to penetrate within
the isolated birds seem surprised to see any people
already we land under the poor tower of a town for the night
once again we are in the light of evening having passed the shadowy gorge
murphy always surprised at the richness of simple pleasures
von zach XII,32
traveling at night writing my feelings
the long slim grass on shore bends in a light wind
the tall mast towers above me, alone
the stars hang low to touch the broad sweep of shore
the moon jumps through the sky, the mighty river flows
what name have i made for myself as a poet
now i’m too old and sick, worthless i must quit my office
i sit here floating, floating, and to what end
between all the earth and the sky is but this skittering tern
murphy flushed from playing his guitar
von zach XII,33
the official of the imperial academy su yuan ming is now buried
among all my friends he stood next to me, by my side
why was it we had to be separated by the war and its riots
why are we now to be finally separated by death
a look in the bright mirror shows i have aged a great deal
as soon as my grief wells up i look to see a white cloud of friendship
since i have lost you and your expertise as a poet
i have no comparable intellect to discuss poetry with
murphy drinking single malt irish whiskey at the “dead poet” bar
von zach XII,34
song of my straw hut’s roof destroyed by the autumn wind
in late autumn of the eighth month came a mad, howling wind
three layers of my thatched roof were rolled up and destroyed
the thatch was thrown into the stream and scattered about the village
even the surrounding trees caught much of it in their branches
the muddy gulches caught more than their share
the children of the village laughed at my old age and feebleness
as they rushed to steal what had been strewn about
openly they bundled up the straw and disappeared into the bamboo
i shout and protest until my lips become dry but all in vain
i return to my bereft hut, lean on my cane, and sigh to myself
suddenly the wind dies down as the clouds darken to the black of ink
they become even more a murky mess in the autumn skies
i seek my blanket which is old and worn, full of holes, cold as iron
my spoiled child has torn it earlier with his feet in his worried sleep
everywhere the roof lets in the cold rain, nothing is left dry
the rain continues and covers the ground in streams
since the riots of the war i have had trouble sleeping
and now i wonder how to survive until the light of morning
i wish it were possible to build a mansion of many rooms
to offer shelter to poor scholars and make them happy
such a house would not be damaged by the storms
and would be as lasting and solid as a mountain
oh, of only that house would appear before my eyes
i could stand the destruction of this house, and die contented in this cold
murphy as a child living in a tent, wet, bedraggled, and cold
von zach XII,35
the moon on the fifteenth night of the eighth month (1 of 2)
my eyes are filled with the bright mirror of the moon
my heart is overcome with feelings for my return to the homeland
thistledown blown by the wind, i have gone far enough away
it is as difficult to get to chang an as it is to touch the surface of the moon
the moon’s reflection on the water is as white as snow
one can even see individual feather’s on birds roosting in the trees
if one were to study the rabbit who resides on the moon
one could even see the individual fine hairs in his fur
murphy alive at harvest time once again
von zach XII,36
the moon on the fifteenth night of the eighth month (2 of 2)
the moon sinks a little more over the wu shan gorge
its rays still shining on the tower at bo di cheng
with its sinking the steep banks of the river darken first
as the last rays light up the upper floors of the fort
the drum signals of the guards seems to hurry the arrival of morning
the lunar toad seems afraid of the noise and now hurries his disappearance
the soldiers stretch awake at the last rays of the sinking moon
as do undoubtedly the soldiers in the camp of the enemies
murphy never forgetting the carnage in iraq
von zach XII,37
on the ninth day of the ninth month i attend a banquet given in yu nan by cheng, 18th of his clan
the last of the frail fall flowers have withered away
only the chrysanthemums fill the branches now
i grow old while the yearly blooms are always fresh
in my sadness the smell of wine and chrysanthemums are my companions
here on this far border we wear dining clothes for the first time this year
we have come to feast on a high vantage point once again
but now all the lands of the empire are torn apart by rioting
and while i drink and sing i pour streams with my tears
murphy marveling at the human capacity for revelry midst the darkest of times
von zach XII,38
the roiling clouds grow thicker and higher
finally the drenching rains come down
the water rushes between the rocks in the stream
trickles through the spruce trees to sprinkle their roots
as a result of the drought the autumn has still been warm
and the harvest in the fields has already been given up as lost
but now the blessing of the skies comes with this rain
even the dried up plants will now stir to life
unfortunately, first there came a too violent rain
but now it has settled into a leisurely soaking
yet even now there is an occasional thunder
which refreshes the force of the downpour
this gift has now lasted until the middle of the night
i wish it to be spread far and wide to all the land
in my imagination i see before the frost comes to kill
a great harvest in my garden to be had in the ninth month
and not only for me but for my fellow villagers
i wish my vegetables to become ever more green
i am always angry that i have to hire others to irrigate my garden
now with this rain i can save this unneeded cost
murphy the old farmer worried about his crops
von zach XII,39
all the bodies of water unite at fou zhou and wan zhou
ju tang is said to be the gateway to the three gorges
there the yang zi runs toward the far off sea
and people ride it to the imperial court despite robbers on the way
isolated rocks lurk covertly in the gorges and appear only in autumn
monkeys hang down from the long tree branches to drink the water
my heart yearns for the home country which lies down the river
why is its anguish always flowing steadily as does the great stream
murphy running trot lines with his father in the middle of the night
von zach XII,40
the mass of water pours forth continually
it knows it will eventually feed the eastern sea
the depth of this desire to maintain its course
reminds of the loyalty the lords feel for the emperor
the rivers xiao and xiang meet to achieve the proper width
shooting past the gorge at yan yu zui brings the proper roar
i would like to follow the stream immediately
but without the fog and rain which will wet my clothes
murphy thinking the long thoughts that the river brings
von zach XII,41
respectfully i receive a personally written letter from the prince of wan zhong
your lands exceed all but a few in this world
your uncle the emperor holds you in the highest esteem
in your office as governor you visit si chuan
and now your official car returns with you to chang an
your ship has already overcome the dangers of the three gorges
in a quiet run the yang zi hastens toward the sea
the governor of gui zhou has made you his honored guest
and you have spent the time of hot summer in his famous park
you have sent me several letters as you journey
it feels as if i were at the festivities you enjoyed
now the autumn skies begin to fill with clouds
and the bamboo stir in the wind beside your wayside inn
you already enjoy the long evenings of autumn there
why should you hurry to be on the choppy waves before you
when you reach chang an you should wait til there is snow on your roof
before you enter the inner palace to report to the emperor
i am like mei sheng who grew old pursuing his literary efforts
you are absorbed in the rites and their music like once the prince of he jian
now you are in gui zhou where once song yu chanted his autumn lament
while i have lost the way to chang an here in my peach-blossom spring
we are both held back on the shores of the yang zi
one in the east, one in the west, at the feet of different mountains
continually hearing the barbarian language muddles my heart
in the evening i feel i am surrounded by ghosts
your loyalty to the emperor is known as that of a trustworthy vassal
you have no need to worry about scurrilous, slanderous attacks
after you have handed over your reports in your worthy way
you will once again take part in the imperial banquets as an honored guest
murphy sipping sherry with the nabobs at harvard
von zach XII,42
the rubstone for ink of the censor ping
censor ping is a prince of poets in the present world
i stand in admiration of his gifted songs
the emperor has bade him come to the land of the three gorges
while there he has come into possession of a beautiful rubstone
it was a big block left over from the stone blasting at da yu
and he alone saw the uniqueness of this stone
its smoothness has the form of gentle waves
and its luster glints forth as flashes in a thunderstorm
two deepening pools of black ink are easily formed
and the stone has both very wet and more dry areas
different people can use the pools of ink together
up to ten persons can sit opposite the stone at the same time
i liken this stone to the unicorn on the official cap of censor
the special quality of the stone does not take second place to that cap
when he wishes to pen his noteworthy verses he uses this stone
and he and his guests can share it during verse time at parties
because he captures with his brush the highest quality of poems
he will never be far away from the emperor’s palace
if he were to bring this inkstone to the court in chang an
i am sure the emperor himself will soon be using it
murphy showing his favorite carved turtle to his guests at the party
von zach XII,43
three poems, each of three rhymes (1 of 3)
when training a noble horse do not strike him in the face
when handling a big fish take care not to injure his scales
if you offend the horse his fur grows dull
if you injure the fish remember he has a mind which can take revenge
when looking upon an excellent man in this world
take notice he does not wish to be slighted by anyone
murphy cross-stitching a biblical verse
von zach XII,44
three poems, each of three rhymes (2 of 3)
a large ocean-going ship of many tons
reminds of a white rainbow in the middle of the heavens
as its mast is raised an oxen must be sacrificed
the entire crew must help in raising its sails
yet if the sky sends no wind to stir it to motion
the ship cannot reach its element of the deep waters
murphy spouting aphorisms in his dotage
von zach XII,45
three poems, each of three rhymes (3 of 3)
a true patriot finds it difficult to change his policies
a subordinate man finds it natural to toady to power
if the latter wishes to attain fame and profit
he must risk his life on the good will of the powerful
when will officialdom finally be pure and without intrigue
the subordinates are now still laughing up their sleeves
murphy with too rakish a youth to make it in american politics
von zach XII,46
the emperor’s tombs from the han lie next to the zhong nan mountains
the hu who once before robbed these graves have again burst through tung guan pass
once marvelous jewelry was buried with the storied emperors
and very soon now one will see men wearing them again
our exhausted horses have been thrown against the enemy
red flags of the turfan which attacked us before now fly over chang an
we have left many competent men in the land of the rivers jing and wei
the enemy’s generals cannot yet rest while they remain there
murphy chattering from the dugout
von zach XII,47
the original idea of zhang ren yuan was to build three forts in he bei
there he felt he could stop the uighurs from seizing the chinese flags
who would have thought he would call in the tatar calvalry as support
when they should have been used against an lu shan in the north
then when the once proud mercenary tatars fell, the pass was open
at that moment tang tai zong rose in jin like a tiger with his generals
now it is only the emperor dai-zong who stands alone for all of china
how can his generals assume they have already properly served his majesty
murphy reading between the lines of the reports from the front
von zach XII,48
the palaces of lo yang were burned by an lu shan
so one should not boast of the 102 forts in shen si
shan dung by the sea is still in the grasp of the rebels
how could one believe that he bei still belongs to the heir of emperor yao
who of the high dignitaries of the court will recapture these lands
the soldiers of the empire can no longer provide for themselves
yet i am glad that at least general wang governs the borderland
though the war should be put on hold while spring planting is done
murphy receiving the damage report after the battle
von zach XII,49
i gaze far to the south to the bronze border columns put there by ma-yuan
even there the dark clouds of war have not completely dissipated
there has been no news of the expected tribute of kingfisher feathers
and the long awaited pearls from the south seas have long been missing
the eunuchs who serve the emperor have become ministers of war
while the generals wear the sable fur caps of emasculated chamberlains
the hot southern lands and the snowy north are still held in rebel hands
one would expect worthy patriots, not the eunuchs, to help in this crisis
murphy listening to the sport’s announcer question the masculinity of the home team
von zach XII,50
always before when i walked the shores of the jin river i saw only the beauty of spring
now the chill autumn rules in the gorges of wu and all the valleys shed their tears
i have remembered especially the late minister yan-wu in the last few days
together with me he received the imperial commissioner to cheng-du-fu
as a result of the imperial mercy he was appointed governor of si chuan three times
because his army was kept in advanced readiness he often found time to drink wine with me
the west of si chuan is a natural forteress effectively guarding china proper
now there is an especial need for the competence yan-wu demonstrated
murphy ruing the fallen leaders when they are sorely needed
von zach XII,51
i hear the coffin of the late minister fang guan from lang zhou is broken open, and being brought to lo yang for final burial (1 of 2)
i hear the corpse of fang guan it is to be brought back to the homeland
it is to be buried on the lu hun mountain near lo yang
after he had helped emperor su zong with his innate abilities
his lonesome soul found itself far away from home
he can be compared with zhu ge liang as a model of deportment
and like xie yin he achieved his highest rank only after his death
once i shed copius tears over his grave in lang zhou
now i weep afresh here in kui zhou on the shores of the zhu river
murphy standing at the crypt of martin luther king the day after his funeral
von zach XII,52
i hear the coffin of the late minister fang guan from lang zhou is broken open, and being brought to lo yang for final burial (2 of 2)
during the day i saw red flags fluttering on a passing ship
i heard it carried fang guan’s coffin broken open in lang zhou
and it is unfortunate that in the end the rioting still continues
while his body is brought to the home country by way of the hu river
his sword accompanies his coffin along with his books
they will be placed in his house in his homeland
i know the place on lu hun mountain where he will rest
there the deepest grief will rule while i am stuck here far, far away
murphy remembering his father said he must leave his family to serve the outer world
von zach XII,53
i take leave of the scholar chang who is appointed to the royal court
although my son supports me i still need the cane to walk
i have been abed with illness all through the autumn
i washed my hair again only a short time ago
now my winter clothes hang loosely from my body
i afflict my old friend with this pitiable sight
he cannot hold back the tears as he greets me
we are both like waterchestnuts aswirl on the stream
parting, i hope he will write to me in the future in full detail
murphy aghast at his diagnosis of prostate cancer
von zach XII,54
recently i heard the turfan had fled back to the distant areas
they dare no more to graze their horses at lin tao
the bright sun has returned to the big bend of the wei river
autumn clouds float high over the inhospitable long mountains
there is no more unrest on kong-tong mountain or in wu yuan jun
from bei ting in the center of enemy lands envoys are sent out to chang an
i hear the turfan king has accepted am imperial princess as his bride
friendly connections with relations by marriage can not be given up
murphy keeping friendly with his three living ex-wives
von zach XII,55
i express grief over the invasion of the turfan and uighurs under bu gu huai en
i hear people say that the uighurs still want to negotiate a monetary settlement
they are not yet ready to retire peacefully to their own country
since the capital has been recaptured and the immediate pressure is off
who would wish to lead an expedition to finish them off
bees and scorpions are small but still have their poisoned stings
our emperor must show his thunder and broadcast his prestige
let us not besmirch with blood the flowing robes of an official like li-chin
by resorting to the bullwhip when dealing with the uighurs
murphy demanding his cake and eating it too
von zach XII,56
zheng, official of the crown prince’s household, returns to kui zhou from his exile in shi zhou
at first i greatly regretted zheng, this blossom from he-han
who came here to gui zhou at the height of the summer heat
a famous man is careful where he goes and where he remains
he does not think it wise to wander far and wide
yet he must remain here in this distant area with its foreign ways
he must be hard pressed by continual poverty and no prospects
for a time he went to visit governor pei-mian of shi zhou
their temperaments harmonized and they became inseparable
on his trip there he clung to hanging tree roots to clamber up
he mounted the craggy rocks to touch the blue of the skies
he looked down there upon a world of green mountains along a stream
finally reaching the town of shi zhou he released the strain of his trip
i read with close interest his accounts of the journey
my heart was uplifted and i was excited in my joy
i have heard that the customs of shi zhou are uncommonly primitive
the people treat the host and the guest with equal warmth and hospitality
he met a man there in the official offices of pei-mian
his warmth of welcome reminded him of that of earlier times
he gave the orders to the kitchen to cook twice the amount
when at the banquets there was no end of full mugs and bowls
although at that time the riots were at their worst and unsuitable
the governor honored the dignity of his guest with the finest banquets
the happy gatherings lasted for hours up until midnight
though the host and guest were not even remotely acquainted
pei mian owns a library of at least 10,000 scrolls
he reads and increases his knowledge during his hours of leisure
i have received many letters from the governor
and i profess to see spears and lances in his powerful calligraphy
now that zheng has returned from shi zhou i am happy
i would like very much to hear from him about his travels
i have heard before only about the land and climate there
and something of their sophisticated agriculture
one might compare the governor pei mian to kou xun of han times
all other districts would strive to have such a governor
as soon as the north wind has relieved the humid miasma
even as an old man i would like to undertake an excursion to shi zhou
though if i travel along the shore cold reeds will touch me
on the narrow mountain roads i will have to push through thick ivy
indeed i am so weak i always rest on my son or servant
but the thought of making this trip brings a sudden strength
yet i must wait until he first winter month before i leave
i must eat more, become strong for the trip through the rocky wilderness
unfortunately my slow spindly mare cannot be used for travel
when she perspires her sweat is not the red of the strongest steeds
even were i to equip her with a saddle and reins
it would be useless to think about riding her
however, fortunately, i own a sedan chair
and it might be carried lightly to reach shi zhou
i will proceed slowly through the high regions
and would hope to avoid all possible dangers
murphy with eyes too big for his stomach
von zach XII,57
i send this poem to governor pei mian of shi zhou
governor pei mian of shi zhou is a virtuous man
worthy of consultation in the forefather temple of the dynasty
i met him earlier in my life and thought him then to be incomparable
he is a golden bell, a large gong set in the east wing of the forefather temple
he is a jade vase, a telescope in clear autumn weather
since i consulted him in si-chuan my different illnesses have improved
he has lived here away from his homeland for three years
he has greatly reduced my grief about this life on the border
he is like the four ministers of emperor yao in his great understanding
he makes easier the worries of the emperor like the best officials of the han
often he has sent me letters from north of the bo yan mountains
at the time of greatest cold he sent a fur coat made from black lambskins
cold of snow and ice are repelled by it, they flee from the brocade sleeves
the strokes of his calligraphy are alive, dragons who miraculously change into characters
the purple dressed servant leaves to tell him his message has been communicated
i have told him to give my repeated thanks to him for his friendship
in the future i will have no need to see after my sons and grandchildren
they will appreciate even more than i the glory of his honorable abilities
murphy toadying with the best of them
von zach XI,58
song of the damascene sword of chao, cavalry inspector of jing nan, president of the tai chang si
the houseboat of the president of the tai chang si proceeds noisily
he announces he has come to inspect the troops, to expel all robbers
a hundred small boats of officials high and low crowd around for him
the bad rebels are seized while others flee like the wild animals they are
the bearer of the emperor’s brocade coat enters the fortress of bo di cheng
in the dead of winter now he shows me his marvelous sword from arabia
he wears short military garb but with a tiger-skin cap on his head
on the balustrade he draws his sword to flash up into the skies
it reflects the sun and appears invincible in the fury of its form
surrounding ice melts, clouds are bleached white, monkeys shout with grief
it is carefully oiled with the fat of a bird taken from a small green bottle
the sharp blade sparkles brighter than the shining winter waters
ghosts can be seen to hastily leave their homes in the moat
if the envoy of the river god were to reach for the red band on the hilt
he would hear complaints from brave giants of the long bo regions, from the fish and turtles
governor rui from jing nan has seen many rebels and his face is full of grief
as governor of the emperor he wishes to help the worthy men in this world
chao stands before him and sings a loud patriotic song
he draws his marvelous sword, promises to use it in service of the emperor
with this sword in his hand he will defend the emperor for all eternity
he receives from the governor the charge to seize the rebels for execution
the yang zi in si chuan is yet narrow like a thread or a needle
the mountains around the area are nothing but crossbow’s bowl
he must travel far and wide to round up all the many rebels
for this the forest goblins and water demons are of no use
the rebels must fear the might of his marvelous sword
he will know how to use it in the right way to sever those necks
his sword is light to swing and reaches a correct distance away
truly this sword is the sword of guang lu of the heroic ages
and once again such a sword will be used to suppress all rioting
chao’s portrait will be painted realistically for the unicorn gallery
his sword will shine forever with nothing allowed to stain it
murphy aswagger and armed to the teeth
von zach XII,59
the two crested falcons of cavalry inspector wang
up on the high balcony in the midst of mighty rocks
the bitter autumn winds ceaselessly attack
rushing torrents and soughing leaves combine their sound
below in the valley the yang-zi winds its endless way
a waterspout lifts its spray toward the clouds
the sun sparkles its colors throughout the mist
two crested falcons hang on the arm of the general
his entourage are dressed as if for war
the taped hoods cover the two wild heads
then both are carefully and slowly removed
their eyes look steadily out into the world
they glint as savage as those of a tatar
any grouse or bamboo hare should be careful
if seen by these falcons there is no escape
even young tigers and the chamois run
they know when they should turn and flee
on the leather sleeve of the brave hunter
both falcons stretch their sharp-edged wing feathers
the bravery of the general is reflected
the falcons fear no living creature
the general has gained his position
his fame and his wealth while on duty in gan su
he rode his horse to battle in the kun-lun mountains
and the country of yu yuan in the extreme west
once his arrows tore into three large predator cats
his daring compares with the savagery of such beasts
rui-gong, governor of jing nan, first appointed him
this competent general has since risen far
he compares favorably with the pair of crested falcons
who swoop down from the clouds onto their prey
now everywhere are rebels who attack in droves
to try to damage the palace of the emperor
who else but such brave men as wang ang rui
can expel these bandit birds of prey from our midst
and all of the heavens be released from their being
so that the good and the bad shall be effectively separate
murphy cutting a manly figure in his polo gear
von zach XII,60
i respectfully congratulate the prince of yang cheng jun on the appointment of his mother who has been honored by the imperial dispensation of the princess of deng guo
general wei received high honor as once wei jing received from the emperor
his mother, as once did pan yo’s, also received congratulations
in this critical time one expects the general to protect the honor of the state
and because of this a high honor is bestowed upon his esteemed mother
she is thus elevated to a most prestigious and lofty position
it is far and above any other offered to those around her
the fief given to yang cheng jun by earlier emperors remains the same
however, this fief is raised to the title of empire, his mother made princess
on the purple decree the characters are resplendent like dancing phoenixes
they befit the scroll like early spring swallows bringing their congratulations
the depth of love for your mother is known to be like that of meng zong
one is reminded of lao lai who cheered his old mother by dancing with her in colored clothes
your mother can be compared to ban zhao who continued her brother ban gu’s histories
she is like the mother of meng zi who embroidered truth to help her son
and your mother taught you righteousness as did meng zi’s
and she exhibited great literary abilities as did ban zhao’s
you have always gone out of your way to honor your mother
and you rose like a bird in the wind to offer loyal service to the emperor
this double loyalty to mother and to emperor must find its reward
your picture is to be painted as an immortal for the unicorn gallery
murphy as always belonging to his mother’s clan
von zach XII,61
the blossoms and leaves are now fallen by will of the sky
rivers and brooks are sunk in their rocky beds outlining their way
the red glow of sunrise limns all things in a skeletal thereness
the cold body of water slides by in a wintry shallowness
how easy it is to pour tears as did yang-zhu lost far from home
my soul hard pines for the return to its native soil
the winds and waves of the evening river are dangerous
but then who could i call upon to row my boat
murphy hunkered for a winter of hanging tight
von zach XII,62
in the fortress the gongs of the night are no longer sounded
the iron chains behind the gates are soon taken down
drums and trumpets resound around this dull region
the stars and the milky way disappear behind glowing mountain tops
the population of si chuan is belabored by this turmoil
imperial commissioners sent here from chang-an are soon murdered
i stand here in my old age like a lonesome yachtsman
slowly sailing through the land of a hundred barbarian tribes
murphy far from his family’s home in texas
van zach XII,63
after opening the gates the officers return with their torches
my boatsmen begin singing their songs of si chuan
the cold sand on the shore gives rise to light fogs on the river
the sinking moon disappears behind the purity of the waves
in my youth i fretted at the slowness of recognition of my worth
now in my old age i lament my entanglement with officialdom
i do not know if i will return to court as an official
i doubt whether i still have strength enough to offer my forces
murphy wincing through the first block on his morning walk for papers
von zach XII,64
the first day of the twelfth month (1 of 3) january 16, 776
today is finally the twelfth month and the thoughts of spring can begin
the stream through the city of yu nan delights the eye
i hear the cry of the wild goose so a letter should be on its way
i watch the long rope of a boat as it is tugged slowly upstream
yet the eye is still not beguiled by fresh plum blossoms
and the arrival of pepper wine to beguile the heavens is not quite now
what i desire most is to draft imperial decrees in the ming guan palace
but when will my lung sickness allow me to travel to court
murphy impatient in his acceptance of the earth’s turning
von zach XII,65
the first day of the twelfth month (2 of 3) january 16, 776
when it is cold, greenish mountain smoke curls down around the market
with full sunlight the fogs about my house gleam with a yellow lambence
girls of wu xi bring salt here from hu-nan, a departing boat sounds its gong
as once zhou yi from his new pavilion, i raise my eye and am saddened
like si-ma-xiang-ru the author of mou ling i suffer a long time from diabetes
i am, of course, not afraid that the blossoms of spring may not arrive
i am merely as a stranger here in the land of si chuan
i listen closely to the folk wisdom of barber-surgeons
murphy accepting the inevitable decline of age
von zach XII,66
the first day of the twelfth month (3 of 3) january 16, 776
soon the swallows will return from beyond the mountain passes
and surely the yellow orioles can fly back over the mountains
the short-lived peach blossoms will appear all along the shore
light catkins will inevitably stick to my garments
when spring comes i feel my mind shall again become clear
as one grows old the meetings with family become ever rarer
if i drink a mug of wine in the future, can i keep from being overcome
i deplore both the lessening of my strength, the distance to my old home
murphy wondering when the doctors will rule out his drink
von zach XII,67
in the southern areas the snow does not leave the earth
it moistens the dark cliff walls and it never seems to melt
yet bit by bit it grows thinner from the growing strength of sun
such snow is seen from afar by all who look to the peaks
if the winter is warm the mandarin ducks grow ill
where the gorges are deep in snow wolves and tigers abound
for me i am full of grief in these distant borderlands
if only i could follow the stream down to the emperor’s court
murphy pacing the floor in his cabin-fever angst
von zach XII,68
i accompany censor wang to a farewell banquet at fang sheng chi pond in east si chuan
many friends of the art of poetry have gathered here in east si chuan
i dare not be frivolous but offer only the best of my efforts in my writing
and i am even more careful since we are near a buddhist cloister
we can be nothing less than regretful at this separation
plum blossoms fill the surrounding countryside with color
the green of spring vegetation surrounds the calm surface of the pond
when you should reflect on your time here in the land of the yang zi
i trust you will wish to return, kindly tell us when we might expect you back
murphy telling himself he is not as bad off as he imagines
von zach XII,69