xiv-01 first lu song of the mountains, sent to censor lu xu zhou
xiv-02 i leave for the peng li lake from xun yang, given to judge huang
xiv-03 describing my feelings, given to my young cousin li zhao, zhang shi of bin zhou
xiv-04 sent to master wang, district superintendent of han yang
xiv-05 on a spring day i return to the mountains, sent to the poet meng hau ran
xiv-06 on the journey to my place of exile ye lang, i stop for a while in the yong hua monastery, sent to all the officials of xun yang
xiv-07 on my journey to exile in ye lang i reach the post office xi sai, sent to master pei yin
xiv-08 hung over from too much wine i return from han yang, sent to district judge wang
xiv-09 while enjoying the willow splendor of han yang, sent to district superintendent wang
xiv-10 in jiang xia, sent to secretary fu of han yang
xiv-11 early spring, sent to wang district superintendent of han yang
xiv-12 at the river, i send this poem to my old friends in ba dong
xiv-13 at the river, i send this poem to master lin yuan cong
xiv-14 given to my cousin li shao, zhang shi of xuan zhou
xiv-15 the eastern pavilion on the jing xi river, given to district judge cheng
xiv-16 in xuan qing on the ninth day of the ninth month i hear that censor cui (fourth of his clan), together with governor yu wen, made a trip to jing ting mountain. at the same time i climbed xiang mountain and consequently could not be with them. wine drunk i send censor cui two poems (1 of 2)
xiv-17 in xuan qing on the ninth day of the ninth month i hear that censor cui (fourth of his clan), together with governor yu wen, made a trip to jing ting mountain. at the same time i climbed xiang mountain and consequently could not be with them. wine drunk i send censor cui two poems (2 of 2)
xiv-18 given to censor cui
xiv-19 south of the jing xi river at the foot of lan mountain is the lan meteor pond where one will find a place to construct a house. i tie my boat to a rock and send this verse to secretary ho chang hao
xiv-20 in the morning i come to the qi lin ford on the jing xi river, sent to wan zhu
xiv-21 an excursion to jing ting mountain, sent to censor cui
xiv-22 from the three cornered hat mountain i look at nan ging,, sent to lord yin shu
xiv-23 on the trip by the white cliffs upstream from nan ging i enjoy the light of the autumn moon. arriving at tian men mountain i send this poem to master wang, deputy assistant to the district judge.
xiv-24 three poems reverently sent to li zhi, duke of wu (1 of 3)
xiv-25 three poems reverently sent to li zhi, duke of wu (2 of 3)
xiv-26 three poems reverently sent to li zhi, duke of wu (3 of 3)
xiv-01
first lu song of the mountains, sent to censor lu xu zhou
i truly am the old madman of chu
who mocks confucius with his phoenix song
the hand grasps the jade encrusted cane
this morning i leave the house of the yellow crane
i go to search the five mountain ranges for the immortals
i will not be deterred and will persevere through hardships
my whole life i have been drawn to the heights
to hike through the famous mountains of the land
the lu mountain rises to its magnificent height in giang si
to almost touch the constellation of the southern bushel
a line of nine “shelter” heights spreads through the clouds like a brocade
one’s shadow dark green on the mirror of the clear water lakes
i see up ahead the opening of the “brazen” gate
i can now go between its two sword tip crags
at the place of the “three stone piers” the lake is deep
the reflection on the waters is the suspended milky way
the waterfall at the great incense burner crag can just be seen in the distance
the sinuous walls and towering rock masses
reach high to enter into the blue firmament
the morning sun conjures up both green shadows and red clouds
birds do not fly into the mountains stretching forever into the blue skies of wu
here i refresh myself gazing out over the beautiful view of heaven and earth
the endless waters of the great river flow ever away never to return
yellow clouds brought by the winds fly over ten thousand miles away
the white waves of the nine streams tumble down from the mountain snows
i love to sing on lu mountain where my spirit finds a home
a leisurely contemplation of the “stone mirror” purifies my heart
places where i once walked with xie ling yun are now overgrown with moss
i sit for a long time sipping the elixir of life and become numb to this world
only after three realizations of a congenial heart does one reach daoist perfection
floating in the distance i see the immortals floating in colored clouds
holding lotus flowers in their hands they go to an audience in the gem city
by prior agreement with huai nan zi off in the infinite sea of ether
i would like to stroll along with the immortal lu ao in the highest regions
murphy feeling that old urge to seek magic as a solution to his problem
xiv-02
i leave for the peng li lake from xun yang, given to judge huang
from the movement of the waves in the fountain waters of guan ying
i recognize that the wind blows outside on the stream in jiu jiang
i hoist the sails and venture out into the water reflecting the sky
straight into the eastern part of the great peng li lake
as the sun sinks the weather begins to change into a fine rain
after the rain, clouds float away into the far distance
these days famous mountains bring beautiful thoughts to me
how inexhaustible is the purity of such enjoyment
over the stone mirror there hangs a glorious moon
a radiant rainbow disappears behind the great incense burner crag
both of us think of the other as we contemplate these natural beauties
i raise with you a simultaneous admiring eye
murphy knowing nothing beats sharing with others
xiv-03
describing my feelings, given to my young cousin li zhao, zhang shi of bin zhou
i laugh at myself because of my long wanderings, will they ever end
one can easily break off green willow branches, i pick a very long one
as i swish it around i enjoy its colors of spring, and long to return home
who would value this branch, yet it makes me think of your lily white face
last night i dreamed of you and remembered the poem of xie for his cousin
as i hum this poem this morning the east wind ruffles the grass near the pond
while i rejoice in this pleasure it suddenly becomes evening and the cuckoo calls
i think of you, this fragrant season ends, the red flowers fall from the courtyard trees
murphy always dreaming of home in texas but never returning
xiv-04
sent to master wang, district superintendent of han yang
on the lang guan lake i view the autumn moon as a guest of master wang
zhang wei lies drunk behind the brocade curtains, the graceful dancers perform
flute sounds reach us from han yang and afterwards the songs float to heaven
loneliness after leaving grieves me, i think longingly of the joy on the wide waters
murphy ever the perfect guest in his flattery
xiv-05
on a spring day i return to the mountains, sent to the poet meng hau ran
i leave my red scarf behind in the dust of the world
and look to place my meditation mat in the green mountains
the golden cord opens the path to knowledge
it is the precious raft across the river of error
trees surround the tall eaves of the monastery
flowers hide among the rocks and along the streams of the valley
the slim pagoda rises as the sun from the morning sea
the massive monastery itself finally looms from the watery mist
sweet smells waft down from the three heavens
silvery bells ring out into the thousand valleys beyond
fresh dew pearls on the autumn lotus
the crown of the lush pines has become full
birds have gathered around as if to hear the teachings of buddha
dragons also appear as guardians deep in contemplation
i am ashamed i do not possess the musical art of bo ya
that some of my friends think i possess, but only you truly understand
murphy truly happy when talking poetry and drinking with friends
xiv-06
on the journey to my place of exile ye lang, i stop for a while in the yong hua monastery, sent to all the officials of xun yang
this morning i left the “tower rising above the smoke”
this night brought me to the yong hua monastery
worthy and valiant men conned the ship from there to here
and i now sit alone, drunk, after all the dinner guests have retired
i want to write down my thoughts and send them to the lu mountains
for when will i ever return to this monastery in this far flung region
the heavens have decided my fate is to go into exile
what use for me to harbor any sad thoughts
murphy the old fatalist reckoning on the future
xiv-07
on my journey to exile in ye lang i reach the post office xi sai, sent to master pei yin
the sails have been hoisted to capture the winds of heaven
and the journey over the waters is unfortunately not slow
in the morning i reach xi sai reached earlier by you
when you suffered a similar exile to chang sha
the peaks along the winding stream emerge in order
then the massive transverse mountains of chu appear
the water here is a torrent fed by ten thousand valleys
they could fill a hundred normal river courses
strange dragons hide deep within the deep pools
waiting for the dry season to emerge and bring their magic of rain
on my trip i have looked for thunder and rain
in order to mitigate the drought and uselessness of my being
when the birds fly up into the heavens my thoughts expand
when people have sorrow they think ahead to spring
i constrain myself to sing a song as once did chu yuan along the marsh
and now send it to you written with a brush from chang nan
murphy in his wanderlust leaving family and loved ones behind
xiv-08
hung over from too much wine i return from han yang, sent to district judge wang
in previous years i was exiled to ye lang
while there the water dried up in my inkstone
this year the emperor brings me back to the south of wu shan xian
now new dragons arise from my brush to record my thoughts
the sublime monarch saw fit to listen again to my zi xu fu
thus will i once again speak my mind about literature
i will bring the spirit of parrot island with me as we drink together again
our flutes will sing to the white clouds across the seven lakes
we will want to sing a clear water song to move along the three xiangs
spare no expense, buy superb wine, spend a thousand gold for the best
murphy unshackling his innermost doubts
xiv-09
while enjoying the willow splendor of han yang, sent to district superintendent wang
the willows on the banks of the river at han yang
stretch away to the east where the departing guests now go
on all the trees flowers hang down on the branches
like sprinkles of snow in a jumble of silk threads
the spring winds freshen my thoughts here to the west of han yang
the plants remind me that now i can again see my old friends
i send you my thanks for your high principles of governmental service
and trust you will hasten your journey to the west and meet me here
murphy looking on the wonders of nature with a joyous eye
li bai xiv-10
in jiang xia, sent to secretary fu of han yang
who would say this stream is wide, it is rather as thin as a piece of silk
the yellow crane tower is in jiang xia, my green mountains are near han yang
soft words are hard to hear, and friends are difficult to see
you send out military dispatches, i write letters to be sent attached to arrows
i strongly desire to serve the state, but the face of the emperor is turned away
though the jing wei bird flies from the west, how can it fill the eastern sea with rocks
drums and horns only sound sad to me, and i find it useless to train for the fight
with a drawn sword i wander the night under a restless snow white moon
in despair i shout to consolidate the drifting clouds, but without hope
later on i will consider your parade and the feast for archers which is to follow
murphy torn between doing hard dirty work and being a leader
li bai xiv-11
early spring, sent to wang district superintendent of han yang
i heard that spring has returned, but i haven’t noticed that yet
i walk along chilly plum blossoms in order to get closer to the season
last night an east wind came and already the willows have golden yellow leaves
the emerald green water flows into the distance as clouds float to infinity
my dear friend will not visit and my heart is torn by its desire
to sit in the green mountains and get roisterously drunk with him
murphy the first to raise his glass
li bai xiv-12
at the river, i send this poem to my old friends in ba dong
waves of a river diminish in distance
clouds and rain cover wu mountain
the east wind takes away your dreams
vagabonds go west to reach ba dong
waking i thought of the city of the white emperor
that mighty fortress where my friends are now
many merchants travel the qu tang gorge
they can carry our letters
murphy forgetting how he used to send letters before e-mail
1/1/2012 9:26 AM
li bai xiv-13
at the river, i send this poem to master lin yuan cong
frosts at night and the waters of the river run cold
though the leaves of the maple still maintain their green
when living in a strange land one mourns
the long road of effort yet to reach its end
blue waves disappear in the backwaters
sun hides in the clouds as it approaches land
i stop rowing and stare up at a wooded hill
harsh barks of apes pierce the thick foliage
midnight, the milky way has turned in the sky
i rouse myself to see the shadows on the waters
a biting wind brings misery along these banks
yet the sand on shore is now washed clean
the moon so clear and close i reach to touch it
i remember my old friends with that sense of longing
but also know to own a gem tree doesn’t quench a thirst
warm your heart toward finding calm at the edge of the sea
my surroundings show the splendor of the world
but i’m alone, and cannot share all this here with you
murphy replete with his sliver view
li bai xiv-14
given to my cousin li shao, zhang shi of xuan zhou
you are now helping to manage xuan cheng
your official principles are righteous and liberal
you rightfully praise the moon bursting forth from the clouds
and have graciously invited me to come to jing ting mountain
full five times the faded leaves have fallen onto dong ting lake
and i have still not returned from my wanderings on the three streams
i am thankful for your invitation but afraid i shall not see you
and the depth of my disappointment threatens to age me prematurely
murphy whose middle name is diplomacy
li bai xiv-15
the eastern pavilion on the jing xi river, given to district judge cheng
i have wandered to the eastern pavilion; perhaps you have once yourself
i walked across the sands of the shore into a flock of white herons
as i came close they exploded away in all directions
it was like snow falling in the mists of the green mountains
when i begin a walk along the jing xi river i seldom know when to stop
for beneath the long men mountains the waves glitter like tiger’s eyes
yet when the rhododendron flowers open, spring is already over
so now i return to ling yang to fish there in the river
murphy besotted by the birth of life in the texas spring
li bai xiv-16
in xuan qing on the ninth day of the ninth month i hear that censor cui (fourth of his clan), together with governor yu wen, made a trip to jing ting mountain. at the same time i climbed xiang mountain and consequently could not be with them. wine drunk i send censor cui two poems (1 of 2)
on the ninth day of the ninth month the red evodia fruit is ripe
i place a small branch with fruit behind my ear and mourn my early graying hair
as i climb the mountain my eyes look out on other mountains and lakes
sorrow about the past overwhelms me as i rest along the way
i look into the distance and imagine seeing the exiled cui
my old friend who has fled from the ravages of fame
of all the ones who used to gather to drink and sing
only censor cui is still within reach for me to meet
today on double nine festival we are not together
yet each has his wine to celebrate in a chosen place
cui’s hand plucks chrysanthemums as is appropriate
and offers some to his companion, the cheerful governor
in the evening the lord returns with his cap a bit askew
his reputation intact having seen to all ritual duties
his carriage with red curtains followed by two white stags
how awesome is his entourage of honored guests
yet you, oh master cui, are to be seen in another place
we are as separated as earth is from heaven
a beautiful celebration and a beautiful landscape
but in two different places so we could not enjoy them together
in the evening i return from the southern peak
the moon shining through ivy makes pearls out of dew
then i climb to the observation tower on the wall
to see the vast interrupted green pines out in the cold
although we are not far from each other i cannot go to you
for you have discarded my like a worn our old shoe
murphy complaining, but oh so politely
li bai xiv-17
in xuan qing on the ninth day of the ninth month i hear that censor cui (fourth of his clan), together with governor yu wen, made a trip to jing ting mountain. at the same time i climbed xiang mountain and consequently could not be with them. wine drunk i send censor cui two poems (2 of 2)
the governor belongs as one of the nine highest dignitaries of the realm
as he returned from the heights his followers came out into the street to greet him
behind the curtains on the red door framed by the halberds of his escort
one can see the plush interior decorated with a brocade of green mountains
he climbs the mountains to look out over the vast sea
he summons guests like censor cui with his outstanding talents
the two tall friends rejoice in friendship and harmony
while the sight of a stand of yellow asters completes the scene
from a distance i long to see your face on this double nine
i think of xie ling yun on his terrace of unsurpassed beauty
murphy always hearing about the important parties the day after
li bai xiv-18
crystal cold night on wan xi river with mournful cries of monkeys
long have i traveled far from home, my boat content to meander
i complain even as a single goose that flies to the southern seas
and i even envy the shuang xi which knows how to flow north
you, noble cui, offer a resting place like once chen fan did for xu chi
yet i am a true vagabond and know not how to settle here
so i will separate from you as does the leaf in its fall
so we part tomorrow morning as autumn descends on ching ting mountain
murphy never quite capable of seizing his opportunities
li bai xiv-19
south of the jing xi river at the foot of lan mountain is the lan meteor pond where one will find a place to construct a house. i tie my boat to a rock and send this verse to secretary ho chang hao
the lan pinnacle towers like a natural fortress
it leaps from the water like the forehead of a whale
rocks mass themselves across the front of a clear pond
as if they wished to join the meteors at the bottom
the sand shimmers under the glory of the autumn moon
the green reflection of the cold mountain moves on the water
the beauty of the scene causes me to row around slowly
the pure light of the moon will hold back any wanderer
i regret you were not able to join me on this trip
because of this my heart is torn with turmoil
you should come here to build yourself a house
tie reeds for the roof and prepare the elixir of life
murphy ever moving old friends into new abodes
li bai xiv-20
in the morning i come to the qi lin ford on the jing xi river, sent to wan zhu
from the west i crossed the da lan mountain, then came south to the qi lin ford
the color of the water reminds one of blue sky, pockets of mist dot the forests
the river has swelled from rains before, but these crashing waves seem larger
dragon’s breath brings a mist on the pond where meteors once fell
a steep cliff the stronghold of the dao nan dang, a sudden rise the grave of chen zhao
mountain tops congregate into the sky, the river shimmers, bringing my eye to it again
i think with longing of master wan zhu, like the thirst at the thought of the gem tree
when will your cheerful face greet me again, bringing warm talk and superior verse
murphy always wanting something other than what he has
li bai xiv-21
an excursion to jing ting mountain, sent to censor cui
my house is on the river flowing from jing ting mountain
and now i put the poetry of xie tiao away for a while
he and i are separated by a few hundred years
but the landscape is now the same as it was then
i have climbed the heights on a clear autumn day
and can look down on the circle of other green mountains
i see below a crowd of birds eating and drinking
they jump around and chase each other in sudden bursts
you, oh master, have learned circumspection in your career
yet you’re much like a crane in the snow on jasper terrace
as you stand there and look out after the drifting clouds
your thoughts seek the infinite heights of the air above the seas
if you from time to time think back on such as i
you laugh at the idea of eating petunias and mallows
the ways of the world are like the winds of autumn
when they are taken away from a man he perishes
at my side rests a sword studded with precious stones
and i will keep my promise like ji zha did for the ruler of xu
a valiant man like yourself will always be appreciated
your portrait will hang in the cloud balcony of honor
murphy reflexively praising those who can help him on his way
li bai xiv-22
from the three cornered hat mountain i look at nan ging,, sent to lord yin shu
on three corner hat mountain i remember the song of xie tiao
“looking at chang an from the banks of the green ba shui”
the ho yang district mentioned in the poem is now gone
looking to the north now i see only the autumn river
the air of lu lung makes me shiver in the cold moonlight
on the zhi qiao balcony i send to you these far horizons of memory
murphy never settling for thinking of himself alone
li bai xiv-23
on the trip by the white cliffs upstream from nan ging i enjoy the light of the autumn moon. arriving at tian men mountain i send this poem to master wang, deputy assistant to the district judge.
driving the boat back upstream on the blue waters
i look on the white rock face silvered by the moon
the lunar brightness of autumn on the cliff
brings a whiteness like the snow of shan yin
the lover of solitude comes on the deck
the foreign merchant foregoes his tasty treats
the sailing ship goes to tian men mountain
i return to the island of disappearing cattle
the northeast wind blows through the long river valley
scattering the nocturnal fog at the rising of the sun
although my friend is nearby we cannot stop, and we are as far apart
as the vast distance between the countries of hu and yue
i am sending you blue orchids as a token of our friendship
and trust that our friendship will continue warmly into the future
murphy sending his postcards back home from paris
li bai xiv-24
three poems reverently sent to li zhi, duke of wu (1 of 3)
liu an, duke of huai nan loved his eight scholars
he took them by the hand as he went up into the dark clouds
although i am disgraced i belong to the royal family
and would like to hold on to the red cassia twig
undeservedly i am appreciated for my poetry
some put me in the ranks of mei sheng and si ma xiang ru
when might i return to the huai river to the east
and get to know the local customs of that region
murphy begging for a job, any job in the recession
li bai xiv-25
three poems reverently sent to li zhi, duke of wu (2 of 3)
contented with your lot you sit in your office whistling
tranquility prevails in lu jiang, though i hear you love to carouse
even if you have to leave your district you will take nothing with you
not even the most trivial such as your bench next to eastern wall
murphy wishing he had a life of nothing but partying
li bai xiv-26
three poems reverently sent to li zhi, duke of wu (3 of 3)
you, the governor of lu jiang, are an enlightened man
your fame rivals that of the governor of guang ping
you are like duke zhao of yan who cleansed the gold terrace
so he could summon to him people of the highest ambition
your guests have had the opportunity to approach the emperor
and now are seen going in and out the palace gate
if you should appreciate me as duke xiang of chu did the poet song yu
i would certainly like to be an invitee to the lan to palace
murphy applying too much butter to his toast