murphy’s li tai bo von zach XX

li bai xx-01

i wander on the banks of the bai shui in nan yang and stand on the stone dam there. i write the following verse.

in the morning i stroll around the source of the bai shui
for a short time i am rid of the bumptious noise of the world
i am surrounded by rocky islands and jagged cliffs
the river and the sky both stretching to infinity

my eyes followed the clouds moving toward the sea
my heart pleased by the fish swimming in the shallow waters
i sing there until the sun has disappeared completely
then walk back in moonlight to my hut in the fields

murphy ever the good old country boy at heart

li bai xx-02

i walk on the banks of the qing leng stream

the time is twilight, sunset in the distance
the stream before me cold and clear
above are flocks of migratory birds
how this excites my old wanderlust

singing softly to myself i look around
the moon peeks through the clouds
and when the song is over i listen
nothing but the rustle of tall pines

murphy filing away the memory of a time and place

li bai xx-03

when i went north of lu cheng to visit the hermit fan, i stumbled into a stand of burdock. afterwards when i met fan i presented him with wine and my pickings of this green. whereupon i wrote this verse.

the wild geese have gone, it’s the end of autumn
last night there was no wind and no cloud to be seen
the heart of this wanderer was filled with trouble
where should i go out into this wide world set before me

then suddenly i remembered the good hermit fan
who indulges himself in his quiet garden retreat
my heart swelled with desire for peace and solitude
i climbed onto my horse and hurried to my friend

i lost the access path which runs beside the city moat
the horse took the wrong direction into dense undergrowth
i am proud my fur coat with green cloud ornaments
and did not like the fact it became covered with nettles

when i finally entered the hut of hermit fan he was astonished
i laughed at the expression on his face as he described my condition
all his friends came to drink and eat the greens i had brought
the autumnal vegetables on a simple plate with forest pears

some other times i forget to eat in my drinking
but at this meal i gave in to my early morning hunger
i noted the acidic jujube plants hanging over the northern wall
and the refreshing melon vines climbing over the eastern hedge

there i sat and emptied four or five cups of wine
then i agreed to sing the song of the wild tiger
now i want to spend the next ten days drinking
and we talk of arranging such meetings far into the future

being only human we have difficulty escaping our inhibitions
but the freedom of drink brings out the best of our exuberance
after i became sodden with drink i mount my horse and ride away
and have to laugh to see shan jian riding off in the wrong direction

murphy the old carouser in his prime

li bai xx-04

outside dong lu men i embark on a boat (1 of 2)

the sun shines in the clear sky above
reflects in the waters beyond the sandy shore
stones appear to move beneath trembling waves
the river winds its way around the larger rocks

later my boat is lit by the moon above
i look around me in a beautiful bay
i could almost think i was in shan yin xian
in the spectral light after a fall of snow

murphy reveling in the beauties of nature

li bai xx-05

outside dong lu men i embark on a boat (2 of 2)

the river appears to be a black dragon
as it winds along the winding stone causeway
west of lu gate flowering peaches on either bank
boats ply the river under the light a gibbous moon

the scene is the equal in beauty of any other
including the famous one on the shan xi river

murphy always happy in the place he finds himself

li bai xx-06

in the fall i hunt in the marshes of meng zhu with friends. at night we go to a banquet within the east tower of shan fu xian, and there we watch the dancing of courtesans

the sun sets, torches are lit, how quickly time can fly
just as waters of the rivers cease not their push to sea
i had always wanted to dine on those fabled plants
those from the yuan qin mountains, those that added years

but this is impossible for me to achieve now
life itself escapes like smoke blown over mountains
so let us gallop ourselves to feeling’s exhaustion
and then test the sorrow of the strings of our qins

the hawk of lu shows boldness when the grass turns withered
the fox and the hare are both plump and well nourished
games is pursued until we have lost our way
and we are adrift, somewhere east of the city

after such a hunt the country around is stripped of animals
even trained horses become alarmed at the sound of the beaters
returning with all our game we give our meat to the guest master
the meat is fried, roasted, how perfect a food for the growing cold

and finally two beautiful girls begin their seductive dance
they seem to float their way like the immortals on the clouds
the host extends his welcome, we forget fatigue from joy
only with the clarity of morning do we seek our homes

murphy riding with the big boys now

li bai xx-07

wandering on the great tai mountain (1 of 6)

it is the fourth month and i go on my way to tai shan
the stones in the road refinished for the emperor’s visit
the six dragon chariot passed through countless valleys
the pristine road winding past canyons and chasms

hoof prints of the imperial train beneath the green peaks
gone now , washed away, overgrown by blue green moss
a waterfall cascades down from the steep cliffs
scraggly pines rise above the raging rush of water

looking to the north i see a remarkable mountain wall
the overhang miraculously not falling down to the east
a cave i pass is half closed off by a stone door
storm clouds begin to collect overhead

i climb the highest peak to look out toward the blessed island
in my mind i see the gold and silver balcony of the immortals
when i leave the gateway to heaven i give a long drawn out whistle
a brisk wind picks up, blown here from ten thousand miles away

four or five fairies hover above, looking down on me
they descend from the very highest reaches of the heavens
smiling they wave to me with their pale white hands
offering a cup of liquid dawn for me to sip

as always i greet them by pressing my forehead to the ground
and am ashamed i do not have the status of an immortal
how i wish i could think less of the wider world
and by dismissing it i could free myself from its grip

murphy slipping into his old fantasy of specialness

li bai xx-08

wandering on the great tai mountain (2 of 6)

on a clear morning i ride out on a white stag
up the mountain toward the gates of heaven
in the middle of the journey i meet a daoist saint
his pupils square, his face fresh and youthful

ivy clings to me as i approach him to talk
suddenly he disappears behind dark clouds
but he leaves a letter in bird scratch script
which falls from the rocks before me

his writing is from an olden time
i try to read it, but it is so different i cannot
i sigh to myself over this missed opportunity
i wished him to teach me but i will never seen him again

murphy looking for the fount of true wisdom

li bai xx-09

wandering on the great tai mountain (3 of 6)

early in the morning i reach the pinnacle
from here i can see the splendor of sunrise
i move my hands in a sweeping motion
to initiate the break-up of the clouds

my life force radiates in all four directions
as if it were emanating from heaven and earth
i see the huang he flowing away from me
it winds gracefully toward distant mountains

leaning against a wall of the mountain i look out
my eyes filled with the quietness of the sky
by chance i meet the young immortal qing tong
his jet black hair tied in two towering chignons

he laughs for i am too late to become an immortal
he feels i have wasted time and become wrinkled with age
while i linger, thinking i should follow him, he disappears
and this wide world is too large for me to find him again

murphy always a step short and a second late

li bai xx-10

wandering on the great tai mountain (4 of 6)

after a long fast over many days i was ready
i wrote a daoist sutra on a torn piece of white silk
when i recited the verse i suddenly understood
mysteries were explained, protective ghosts appeared

i seemed to float, sitting on clouds borne by the wind
it was as if i had grown wings and was able to fly
i climbed the rocks to the tip of the ri guan peak
there on the balustrade i looked out over the eastern sea

the red light of dawn reaches to the distant mountains
but just before came the crowing of the sky cock
the gold and silver balcony of the immortals glimmered in the clouds
like the misty foaming wake of a giant whale

how can i ever, finally, obtain the medicine of immortality
and fly into the heavens to reach the island of the blessed

murphy counting on a miracle to rescue him from his troubles

li bai xx-11

wandering on the great tai mountain (5 of 6)

the ri guan point falls off steeply both to the north and east
two massive rocks stand out between the two walls
between i can see the waters of the sea rise and fall
the sun’s rays illuminating the entire firmament

a thousand points around compete for the highest tower
ten thousand valleys twist and turn preventing their access
i think about the immortals who flew here on the backs of cranes
looking around in the clouds i see no evidence of them now

seen from below a tall spruce reaches toward the milky way
from down here below it seems small, barely a foot high
the mountain flowers are different from those where men live
up here in the fifth month their blooms peek through the snow

ultimately i would like to meet here with the immortal an qi sheng
where together we could prepare the magical elixir of life

murphy dreaming of a miraculous, phantasmagoric future

li bai xx-12

wandering on the great tai mountain (6 of 6)

in the morning i drink water from the lake xi wang mu
in the evening i reach the gate of heaven
i carry the lu qi qin in my arms as i walk
wandering throughout the night among the mountains

the mountains seen clearly under a shining white moon
the night quiet with a soft wind murmuring through the pines
immortals are in the air between the green peaks
i can hear their music and singing from across the way

i enjoy pure moonlight in this place of infinite peace
at times all the slopes appear to join in a dance
one imagines dancing phoenixes in their flutter
garments with dragons and tigers floating in the air

i reach my hand to the sky toward the bottle gourd constellation
i wish to remain here and further participate in this waking dream
i raise my hand and wish to play with the pure water of the sky river
but i fixate on the loom of the web weaver of the stars

sadly, next morning everything resumes normality
and i see only the five colored clouds stream over tai shan

murphy indulging in an altered state of mind

li bai xx-13

on an autumn night i go to visit district judge liu from dan shan at the yin xi pavilion

you, the forthright district judge, wish to test your new boat
you decorate the yin xi pavilion with lanterns and host a feast
your guests include notable poets such as prince xiao of liang you
we all look forward to songs that rival ying, the best singer from the capital

we constantly marvel at the beauty of the moon lit landscape
for the starry night sky and the surrounding hills blend their glory
for all of us this kindles a desire to sail out onto the vast sea
but we bide our time until a constant fair wind enables us to do so

murphy always early and waiting for the others to show up

li bai xx-14

with courtesans i climb qi xia mountain, the favorite of prince xiao of liang. we plan to visit the peach garden of the ming family there.

lush green grass covers the ground we climb
willows and plum trees compete in spring’s beauty
xie an also stayed on the east mountain for a time
bringing courtesans along to entertain himself

they sit laughing in front of gilded screens
their colorful beauty that of singing flowers
today is different from all yesterdays
and tomorrow will certainly bring change

i bring my white hair to sit, drinking sparkling green wine
i force myself to sing but my heart is already broken
have you not yourself seen such a moon in the sky
this one today on the lake of prince xiao of liang

this one which is reflected in the full cup of wine
once held in the hands of the honorable prince himself
though the prince of liang died long ago
the same moon is here gracing the beautiful lake

the yellow orioles bring their song of deep sorrow
we sit weeping in the brisk winds of spring
we indulge ourselves to the fullest becoming quite drunk
then we sleep it off in the east side of peach garden

murphy using any excuse to tipple with fresh spring wine

li bai xx-15

together with my cousin li liang, governor of hang zhou, i walk to the tian zhu monastery

we will hoist our sail to visit the islands of the blessed
now we rest at the post station near the qian tang river
our excitement makes us attentive to the beauties of nature
my cousin the governor has come with us and shares a walk

the tian zhu monastery suddenly looms before us
the wind in the trees makes us feel autumn is already here
we watch the clouds as they mutate fanciful forms
we splash the waters and peer into their clear depths

beyond the waters are jagged heaps of mountains
from a window i watch the current of the river flow away
after i complete this poem i watch the moon escape the clouds
my sense of beauty encompasses all of the land of wu

murphy always attentive to the mood of a river

li bai xx-16

i ride on a boat with a friend

qu yuan, minister of chu, walked the banks of the great river
xie ling yun fished for jelly fish from the immense sea
qu yuan grabbed a great rock and jumped into the river
xie ling yun hoisted his sails and went to sea

i have visited those places where history was made
but i would rather see the great desert where no grass grows
for unfortunately the men of antiquity are long gone
they have all vanished, as will the drifting clouds above

i aspire to play among the rays of the sun high above
so i must prepare myself to become an immortal
i want to be atop hua mountain looking out to sea
to be able to spot peng hu, the island of the blessed

i want never to experience the rapid passing of my youth
i will wonder only that green grass withers so quickly
i have no other intention than to catch the giant turtle
and will say such to any messenger from the emperor’s palace

murphy slipping under the radar to maintain his freedom

li bai xx-17

i climb down from zhung nan mountain and stay at the hut of the hermit hu si who offers me wine

in the evening i climb down from the green mountain
the moon above watches over my precipitous return
i pause to look back at the path i have followed
the dark night sky lies heavy over the green hillside

the hermit hu si takes me by the hand and leads me to his hut
a young boy opens the crude gate of plaited thorns
we enter a dark road through a bamboo grove
blue green ivy brushes our clothes as we walk

i express my joy at finding shelter for the night
relaxed and happy we drink a delicious wine
in a long song i imitate the wind rustling through pines
when the song ends few stars of the milky way remain visible

i am completely drunk and hu si is only tipsy
both full of joy we let worries go and lose all restraint

murphy always up for drinking another man’s beer

li bai xx-18

after the emperor’s audience i visit chamberlain lu and we talk of earlier excursions

while you were admitted into the imperial library
i was sent directly into th han lin yuan
fortunately we live in the reign of an illustrious ruler
and both enjoy the clouds and rain of his benificence

now it is a time we can spend for ourselves
and we once more seek a quiet place to talk
and as we speak of earlier visits to mountains and lakes
it is as if we were there in the forests and valleys

mention clear lake and we think of the moon which sank at dawn
mention the piled mountains and we hear the shrill cries of monkeys
if we could only return to our former pleasures
and once more sip the fragrant wine of the backcountry

murphy caught up in his official duties and wishing for time off

li bai xx-19

in the entourage of the emperor i go to the palace of warm springs

the royal guard is divided into twelve troops under twelve generals
each resplendence corresponding to a constellation in the heavens
the glittering spears have the lambence of the autumn moon
the rainbow colored flags surge in the wind like night clouds

the troops parade through suddenly quiet city streets
the pure music of the court soars into the heavens
the sun rises as mists float above the magnificent palace
imbuing the scene with the benevolent majesty of the emperor

murphy right up there, hobnobbing with the big boys

li bai xx-20

in the southern pavilion in han dan i watch courtesans dance

young women of of yan and zhao sing
while the beauties of wei play the pipa
their white faces more glorious than sunshine
fluttering sleeves of the dancers brush the flowering branches

wine cups in hand we watch the lovely girls
we ask if they would sing the songs of han dan
how poignant are the plucked sounds of the pipa
the melodies bringing even dark clouds to a halt

where might ping yuan jun be found today if still alive
he is now gone, though tadpoles still grow in his old pond
he once had 3,000 courtiers who ate with him
who now speaks of all these many people

if we do not share poetry with those around us now
we will be forgotten by future generations

murphy recognizing the ephemeral nature of beauty

li bai xx-21

on a fine spring day i visit the deep pool of lo fu

singing i walk through the opening to the valley
at the end of the road i clamber along, alone
clinging to the rocks i make it down the deep ravine
i plash and play with the surface of the water along the shore

mists rise through the rocks as i walk along
and become besotted in a flowery meadow
standing in wonder i linger a long while, enraptured
but the sun sinks low in the west so i turn toward home

murphy welcoming the bounty spring doth bring

li bai xx-22

in the spring governor pei of shang zhou and i visit the ravine of sho o

governor pei has the faculties of the immortals
and rises far above the usual run of expertise
he thinks only of the hovering clouds of paradise
of being a hermit surrounded by swirling purple mists

he rules the country between the rivers shang and lo
his success has led to his heart being at peace
he loves the solitude and would like to leave the world
he seeks silence and closing the door to his small hut

when i came to shang zhou spring had just arrived
he welcomed me as guest and i was glad for his company
when we opened the curtains of morning we saw the massif
up on the cloud bedecked peak snow covered the pines

at times we left the eastern city to wander to the west
often we would visit the cliffs at the foot of the mountains
the green crags soared up into the sky
the reddened sun falling into the valley

our wish for seclusion was still not satisfied
yet we were bemused by the return of spring’s splendor
on the edge of the gorge a profusion of flowers
the rocks ghostlike in the soft light of the moon

we finally entered the coach to return home
by then there was already dew on the grass
we wanted to stay longer but it was quite late
and we could hear the shrill cries of the apes

these voices upset our feelings and we wished them gone
for hikers it was time to return to the quietude of home
tomorrow morning i set out east from shang zhou
but i will never forget the joys of my visit here

murphy being the perfect guest as is his wont

li bai xx-23

in the company of my grandfather’s brother, governor of ji nan, i travel over the que shan lake (1 of 3)

at first i thought the que shan lake was nearby
how could i have known it was so far away
this visit is different than that of wang hui zhi to dai kuei
we can leisurely return home in our rowboats

murphy enjoying time with his elders

li bai xx-24

in the company of my grandfather’s brother, governor of ji nan, i travel over the que shan lake (2 of 3)

this lake stretches before us for many miles
the surface glistening with the green of the mountains
for the moment the moon is to west of the waters
and lights the way home for the estimable li ying

murphy as a boy out in the boat with the men fishing in the early morning

li bai xx-25

in the company of nmy grandfather’s brother, governor of ji nan, i travel over the que shan lake (3 of 3)

the lake’s water flows out and into the north sea
our boat returns from its southern shore
from a distance it seems that que shan spins around
it’s as if it wished to accompany us as we go along

murphy only rarely losing his sense of direction

li bai xx-26

on a spring day i attend the banquet of the prefect of nan yang and his subordinates in the north lake. taken by memories of the past i write the following verse.

i once heard that yan yan zhi a high dignitary
accompanied the emperor to a feast on lake jing
the ornate houseboat plowed into the sky’s reflection
the imperial tent on the bank reached into the clouds

the emperor xiao wu di sang the song of storms
which once han gao zu intoned in celebration of his return
at this time yan yan zhi presented the emperor a magnificent poem
which would take its place in the revered canon of the ancient poets

i was born in a much later time so did not witness this event
the past stands alone, with only the zhong shan mountain still there

the prefect yang has proven to be a great governor
his fame penetrates to the shores of the great sea
his talented subordinates attend this sumptuous banquet
they are resplendent as fully leafed trees in the imperial park

the bird painted on the bow of the boat dances above the waters
as do beautiful women with moth eyebrows and sparkling pearls
string instruments play new songs from the imperial opera company
all this enhanced by the old dances to the songs of wu

the songs rise to the milky way in the heavens
the listening guests are filled with appreciative joy
at dawn despite the competing cockcrows of chickens
high tones of the flutes soar above to the still shining moon

in the park of the old rulers of the liu song dynasty
the loggers have started and the grass is now mowed
when i note the sadness this brings i ask we drink another cup
all our wine jars must be emptied in our gala feasting

in this time of our flowering youth we must celebrate now
let no future sighs be heard of how we fell short in our revels

murphy the old raconteur at the banquet

li bai xx-27

at the celebration at the mountain lake of army secretary zheng

you fear that the grass is too quick to wither
i fear the flower freshness of face is too swift to fade
we sorrow to see the willow flowers scatter in the wind
and especially at this time we should indulge in our wine

we should greet the setting sun with our songs
as shadows of dancers whirl in the clear mirror of the lake
if we should fail to get drunk this fair evening
for whom are we saving this time of our pleasure

murphy an unreformed old hedonist

li bai xx-28

on my way to the mountain pavilion of the xie family

as age creeps up on me i lie on the banks of rivers and lakes
i am always happy in a solitude with heaven and earth
i have been ill for a while now and have begun to feel lonely
while nature has yet to present me with her new spring dress

i am on my way to visit your western pond
there i hope to refresh my feelings and lift my sad thoughts
i turn away from forging through the snow under the pines
and stick to walking on the ivy covering the rocks on my way

spring has come to the banks of the pond of xie ling yun
the vegetation which had withered in the winter grows again
as i come near the bank flowering branches brush my face
mountain birds welcome me with their courting songs

i meet a farmer who offers me a taste of his wine
we empty several cups while the sun moves into the west
later, when drunk, i enjoy the moonlight on my return
though i am far from home children warmly welcome me back

murphy turning in on himself as he becomes decrepit

li bai xx-29

full cup in hand i speak to the moon

tonight the moon comfortably fills the inky sky
but when did it shine there for the first time
setting down my cup i speak today to it again
knowing one can reach for the moon but never hold it

the moon moves on and men follow with their eyes
it is bright as a mirror flying over the ruler’s palace
the dark fog melting away as its clear rays break through
but why then does it disappear behind the morning clouds

year in year out the rabbit grinds the moon’s medicine
the men of today look back at the moon of earlier times
when the fairy chang o sat alone on the moon without a neighbor
for this same moon shone on the men of antiquity

those alive today are ephemeral flowing water
the bright moon always stays the same
let us sing and drink with our brim-filled golden cups
the moon asks nothing more from all of us

murphy feeling the gargle and spinning his yarns

li bai xx-30

with my nephew li an, official of the da li si, i go to the mountain lake of abbot chang (1 of 2)

the priest hua yuan loved the poet xie ling yun
so was pleased to teach him the buddhist wisdom
alone we dwell among pines and rocks
comparable in beauty to those of qing liang shang

the flowers here do not breach the abbot’s detachment
the waters of the lake and his heart are both at rest
he sits in meditation with a limitless sense of time
all of heaven and earth become an infinite void

murphy zazening along with the best of them

li bai xx-31

with my nephew li an, official of the da li si, i go to the mountain lake of abbot chang (2 of 2)

when guests come the abbot is wont to preach
his words golden sand glittering through pure water
on the rocks around grow a cool blue green moss
in small fields green tendrils climb toward the sun

his hands hold steady a jade-handled fly whisk
as he speaks his servant brings each of us two pears
we are reluctant to leave this sublimely beautiful place
but evening is just beginning beyond the ivied walls

murphy never trusting anyone who claims to hold the only truth

li bai xx-32

i give a party on the phoenix balcony in nan jing

i give a party on the phoenix balcony in nan jing
and wish to invite the setting sun as a guest
the continuous waves of the great river sweeps clean
the pain of past centuries fades as clouds and hearts open up

i wish also to understand exactly who it was
who first attracted the phoenix to visit here
though they have flown away on this day
they will surely return again to this their place

our august emperor surpasses in wisdom fu xi and xuan yuan
eminent men now serve as once tian lao served huang di
we do not need great natural leaders at this propitious time
so let us play the pipa and get drunk from golden cups

when the east wind delays the flowers on the mountains
how could one not empty their jugs of wine
the emperors of six dynasties are buried under the long grass
many large palaces are covered with blue green moss

let us drink and not talk so much of the past
music is a proper companion and invites us all to drink

murphy the jovial host with extra kegs if needed

li bai xx-33

we hold a banquet by the qing xi river in qiu pu while snow falls in the night. among the guests is one who sings the song of the partridge

with your sable cloak around my shoulders
i sit by your wine jug of lustrous jade
snowflakes fall and melt in the wine
and i am suddenly no longer cold

one guest from gui yang rises to sing
he begins the song of the mountain partridge
a fresh wind moves the bamboo outside the window
a partridge out there calls back his answer

this alone gives us great pleasure for the night
why should we have to add flutes and such

murphy in the right place at the right time

li bai xx-34

after a banquet on the banks of the yu jing pond, an expansion of the qing xi river, i take leave of zhou gang

xie ling yun, count of kang lo, became governor of yong jia
then wandered from there out to shi men mountain
in the middle of the river near there is a single island
where a thousand years ago the poet xie ling lun lived

i wandered around myself and came to this qiu pu district
three times i entered into the peach blossom spring there
a thousand peaks glittered with their accumulated snow
in ten thousand valleys one heard plaints of the monkeys

i was as enthusiastic as was xie ling yun when he came here
here where i talked of literature with master zhou gang
we swept the leaves off the rocks and spread mats
then sat in the moonlight to drink our clear wine

the qing xi river flows southerly beyond the big tower
then turns directly to the south to flow onwards
in its curvature it forms the yu jing pond
whose clarity of water cleanses both heart and mind

we look out on this beautiful landscape before us
here we can free ourselves from the noise of the world
only deep into the night will we return to our homes
singing our drunken songs as we go our disparate ways

after our farewell you should be sure walk the pond
and take care to smell the fragrant herbs along its bank

murphy the toastmaster doing a bang-up job

li bai xx-35

i walk to the bo ge bi pond (1 of 2)

where is it a pleasure to walk to at night
to the bo ge bi pond in the moonlight
mountains sparkling with their hoods of snow
shadows of monkeys bouncing in the branches

my only concern losing the moonlight and thus the view
for when it disappears i will ask to be rowed to shore
when people visit here they are always besmitten
they catch a nostalgia for the place which never lessens

murphy remembering marble falls on the colorado river

li bai xx-36

i walk to the bo ge bi pond (2 of 2)

i whistle for a long while on the shores of bo ge bi pond
the night in the canyon has a refreshing coolness
fish and dragons ripple the surface with their movements
the small waves radiating to meet at cross purpose

heaven has sent us a bright full moon
its lustrous glory edges forth from a flying dark cloud
unfortunately one cannot see the homeland from here
i am overcome with sorrow as i look directly to the west

murphy an old man, having left texas for the last time

li bai xx-37

festival at the tao family pavilion

lovers of solitude live in these narrow streets
the high gate signifies an important dignitary
the pond is a mirror that reflects one’s inner self
among the trees bright blooms bring color

the spring sun shines forth from the green water
red clouds of evening hide behind the blue balcony
then i hear the beautiful music of the ensemble
i think i am in the golden valley of shi chong

murphy relaxed and happy in his dotage

li bai xx-38

on his warship a feast is given by the prefect wei
returning, we watch the dance of the courtesans

the ship’s sails flutter in the gusting wind
we are returning through the clear waters
poems are written to the rhythms of the music
we drink our fill to the music, watching sword dances

courtesans from the brothel dance facing each other
the boys have white powdered faces and two chignons
they are like wandering clouds who linger for a while
drunkenly i think back to the fairies of duke xiang of chu

murphy drunk enough to be the life of the party

li bai xx-39

on my journey to exile in ye lang in jiang xia on the southern pavilion of the xing de cloister, i sit at banquet with my uncle, a princely archivist, and the prefect xue

the perple temple can be seen across the river
the green of the mountains reflect from the river
the sandy beaches of the stream seem to have no end
the sun reflects on the water imitating the sky

pleasant music flows through the fragrant pavilion
a boat below filled with lotus flowers rocks in the wind
i am respectful as i participate in my uncle’s banquet
he is a second ji yuan of the bamboo grove

and he has also invited the prefect xue
veritably a second tao yuan ming

murphy thrilled to be seated at the head table

li bai xx-40

we travel by boat on lang guan lake south of the city mian zhou

introduction: in the eighth month of the first year of the reign of qian yuan i was banished to ye lang. i met in mian zhou my old friend, the vice-president zhang wei who was traveling to take up his post as prefect of xia kou cheng. the prefect du of mian zhou and district judge wang of han yang invited us to a festival on the banks of the lake south of mian zhou to celebrate the restoration of peace in the realm. it was early in the evening and the reflection of the moon on the water reminded one of white silk, the image so clear one felt able to reach out and pick it up.

zhang wei was in a particularly good mood, looking out on the world full of satisfaction. he turned to me and said, “although there have been men since ancient times who came to the shores of this lake to enjoy themselves, of their joy we have no records they left behind. you, oh master, must give an appropriate name for this time on the lake so those who follow will remember and the events recorded will not perish.”

therefore i poured a beaker of wine into the lake and gave it the name “lang guan he,” as once before in zheng zhou a pond was named “pond of minister li chong”.

the scholars fu yi and cen jing who were present applauded this action, and zhang wei bid me write a poem to capture the occasion. the poem was inscribed on a stone at the edge of the lake and will last as long as da bie mountain.

master zhang has had us enjoy nature at its finest
travelling across the lake beyond the town of mian zhou
at this time we enjoyed a bright autumn moon at its fullest
and the scenery rivaled that in the capital wu chang

the guests all became drunk watching the bright glow in the sky
it was a pleasure seldom seen since the fabled ancient times
vice president zhang wei loves this lake and its environs
i therefore have named these waters lang guan he

as the people will retain their joy in this wonderful place
this name shall remain forever, hard by this mountain da bie

murphy rising to the occasion when so bidden

li bai xx-41

in the company of my uncle vice-president li, i go by boat on dong ting lake deeply intoxicated with these three poems (1 of 3)

today we celebrate the friends iof the bamboo grove
our host is a member of my family, vice-president li
after our first three cups he asked me to be the poet
and indulge the company with my wild effusions

murphy always up for drunkenly regaling his friends

li bai xx-42

in the company of my uncle vice-president li, i go by boat on dong ting lake deeply intoxicated with these three poems (2 of 3)

one hears the music of the oars as we glide on
we drive back home from the center of the lake
white gulls fly with us in silent company
eying no doubt the enormity of our feast

murphy as usual, in the center of it all

li bai xx-43

in the company of my uncle vice-president li, i go by boat on dong ting lake deeply intoxicated with these three poems (3 of 3)

it might be best to remove zhun mountain entirely
then the the wide xiang river would empty into dong ting lake
as there is no end to this wine from ba ling zhun
in this sad autumn on the lake, why not get roaring drunk

murphy immoderate at best and out of control at worst

li bai xx-44

during the night i travel on dong ting lake to visit the censor pei and carouse with him

the sun has almost gone under
my small boat moves aimlessly
the lake’s surface shows a shimmering moon
i am alone with the waves west of ba ling zhun

then i meet the hermit pei and race him home
we are going to his hut high in the mountains
there he fetches his lute from a grove of bamboo
and plays for me the song of the jungle fowl

at the end of the music we become sodden drunk
sitting beside the north window with jellyfish legs
as long as we have breath we should talk with friends
why ever become an official with a sash and a scepter

murphy always happiest midst simple folk

li bai xx-45

in the company of my uncle li ye, vice-minister of justice, and the attache of the imperial office, jia zhi, i visit the dong ting lake (1 of 5)

if one looks from dong ting lake to the west
one will see the opening to the chu watercourse
toward the south one sees only the water
and today there are no clouds in the heavens

when the sun goes down behind chang sha
the heavens grow brilliant with the colors of fall
though i do not know where the two yo daughters drowned
i feel somehow i must offer a libation of grief

murphy using any excuse necessary to hoist a few

li bai xx-46

in the company of my uncle li ye, vice-minister of justice, and the attache of the imperial office, jia zhi, i visit the dong ting lake (2 of 5)

night on the autumnal southern part of dong ting lake
the air is clear with no hint of fog to come
why, of why, can i not simply rise from these waters
ascend directly to the realm of the immortals in heaven

i so wanted to spend time out in the lake
to relax and lie back to enjoy the moonlight
i have brought sufficient wine and steer my boat
toward the white clouds at the horizon, far, far away

murphy sailing aimlessly into the future

li bai xx-47

in the company of my uncle li ye, vice-minister of justice, and the attache of the imperial office, jia zhi, i visit the dong ting lake (3 of 5)

in the past the genius of lo yang jia yi
was banished to the waters of the xiang river
li ying traveled in the same boat with him
two geniuses together in the moonlight

if i were to think back now on chang an
that happy time in the court is still with me
but i don’t know which direction in the west it lies
else i would laugh with joy turned to my old friends

murphy happy to be out of the maelstrom of being a principal

li bai xx-48

in the company of my uncle li ye, vice-minister of justice, and the attache of the imperial office, jia zhi, i visit the dong ting lake (4 of 5)

the autumn moon shines off to the west
as we sail along on the dong ting lake
to the north where the xiao and xiang run together
wild geese fly over in this early morning

drunken guests are crowded on the ship
singing the song of the white nettle plant
they seem oblivious to the bitter cold
and the white dew sparkling on their autumn clothes

murphy bemused at the antics of drunken friends

li bai xx-49

in the company of my uncle li ye, vice-minister of justice, and the attache of the imperial office, jia zhi, i visit the dong ting lake (5 of 5)

the daughters of the emperor vanished here
into the clear waters of the xiang river
grieving travelers left then with nothing
but the fall foliage on dong ting lake

now, the clear light of morning reveals the lake
which is calm and much like a mirror of jade
how one would wish to paint the picture
the looming beauty of zhun shan mountain

murphy well aware of the danger lurking in nature’s charm

li bai xx-50

south of the huang rock in the chu stream at a banquet in the home of vice-president yang

moonlight spreads its light on the five islands
the blue house is opposite green mountains
my old friend vice-president yang enjoys beauty
it surrounds us as the chu stream is in spring flood

we drunkenly walk to view the moonlit surface
after at least three cups we begin to sing
i cannot stay long to enjoy the festivities
but at a later time i will come to visit again

murphy the old master of politesse

li bai xx-51

a shortened version of a poem i wrote while drunk on mount tong guan

i love to let myself go on mount tong guan
even after a thousand years i would hate to leave
at any rate, here with sleeves rolled up, i dance for joy
and will not stop until i gambol on over to wu song mountain

murphy practicing his texas two step for the upcoming prom

li bai xx-52

exploring wu song mountain with under-district-judge chang from nan ling

xie an once fearlessly ventured out into the sea
he alone nonchalantly whistling during a protracted storm
his singular nature affected his friends during the voyage
his good mood different from the feelings of the others

you, sir, can be put on an equal footing with him
you too stand up to the world with languid dispassion
when i first came to the foot of wu song mountain
i drank much wine and climbed as far as i could

wanting to explore its history i looked for old inhabitants
finding none i called out its name, mountain of the five pines
how glorious is its being, its magnificent landscape
it even surpasses the famed wo zhou mountain in zhe giang

the rustling of the pines penetrates down into the caves and valleys
and since there is much rain and storms here throughout the year
any echo is lost in the sound of a hundred rivers
their roar as loud as the floods in the three gorges of the yang zi

i will cut a bamboo to probe the profusion of wild flowers
and follow you, a second zhuang zi, along your pure way
then, if one can stay for a while in the long tang monastery
i wish to become a student there of a buddhist master

murphy giving too much credence to another’s expertise

li bai xx-53

the qing xi mountain in xuan cheng

the qing xi mountain outshines the tong lu mountain
its waters and lush vegetation bring pleasure to the eye
the landscape is as old as the sun above
the overhanging rocks echo the color of the sky

there exists a profusion of birds, some not yet named
there are white monkeys, the first i ever saw
but i have met no one here who loves nature as i do
so i sigh softly to myself surrounded by beauty

murphy inquisitive enough to explore any new venue

li bai xx-54

with xie liang fu i visit the liang fu monastery by the jing river

on your white boat we cross the river
we are on the jing west of jing xian
the scenery resembles one of my favorite spots
by yun men mountain beside the ruo ye stream

but it is better to be here with you, a second xie ling yun
to come upon such beautiful landscapes
why should we need to travel to the east
in order to visit the gui ji mountains

murphy content with what he has

li bai xx-55

i visit the shui si monastery and send this verse to district judge zheng

the monastery of tian gong shu si shines brightly
a cloud of brocade on the eastern outskirts of jing xian
wind driven waves out on the clear waters of the river
green bamboo surrounding the high convent building

every day a cool wind refreshes these heights
those who love beautiful scenery visit here often
but by the fifth month one longs for a fur coat
one would think the autumn frost had come

the ivy winds its old vines over the rocks
shoots of bamboo showing tender new leaves
as i sit and sing songs to the wind
thinking of you and your beautiful poems

as a poet you, oh zheng, are a past master
your original verse achieves especial grandeur
when will you come here to sit with me and talk
and compare these mountains to the himalayas

murphy talking to himself, and to his friends far away

li bai xx-56

on the ninth day of the ninth month climbing a mountain

tao yuan ming decided to return to his home
wishing nothing more to do with the wider world
having no wine with which to fill his cup
he made friends with wang hong, the district judge

the judge’s servant approached with the wine
beside yellow blooming chrysanthemums
i share tao’s lack of success in life but this year
i celebrate double ninth without wine, without flowers

how wonderful it was when zhou jing invited chen fan to visit
and now you have offered to regale me on xiang mountain
there you have built a balustrade to enjoy the view
looking down one sees the curving bank of the wan river

on the balcony with you now tatars play jade flutes
young women from yue pluck silken strings of the pipa
if one is not descended from royalty as you are
an occasion such as this is never even a dream

red carp from the stream here inspired the genius of gao jin
the white turtle here always preceded the river spirit ping yi
it is really wonderful that such a quintessence resides
i wish to offer them a libation so they will know i was here

how few of those who have climbed to these heights
are still alive and share the world with us today
i have been disloyal to my earlier intention to retire to solitude
but the day is soon at hand when i shall act on it

the range of mountains that loom before me
look like crashing, massive ocean waves
i raise my hand to once again drain my cup
for in drunkenness is forgetfulness

we all empty our cups and begin to sing together
some begin to reel around in a confused dance
the guests begin to scatter like windblown leaves
some hats are taken by the brisk fall winds

who knows if we will ever return to this balcony
but i for one shall never forget this celebration

murphy ever appreciative of those who feed him beer

li bai xx-57

on the ninth day of the ninth month

today the clouds spread deep blue skies
water is green, mountains clear in the autumn air
i have brought a jug of “liquid dawn” wine
i pick a mountain aster to float in my cup

away from the city, surrounded by ancient pines and rocks
a stiff breeze brings a clear sound of instruments
i look in my cup which mirrors a happy face
i laugh aloud and pour myself another, and then another

as once did meng jia i lose my cap in my drunkenness
singing the moon over the mountains, remembering my friends

murphy especially up for partying on holidays

li bai xx-58

on the ninth day of the ninth month i drink on the long mountain

up on long mountain i celebrate by carousing like chong yang
yellow chrysanthemums make me laugh as i think of poor exiles
in my drunkenness i watch the wind snatch the caps from my friends
dancing i become the moon beckoning us all to linger a while longer

murphy once again in his cups and yielding to abandon

li bai xx-59

occasional poem on the tenth day of the ninth month

yesterday at the chong yang carousing up in the heights
this morning that is at an end, yet i lift my cup again
how much do the asters regret their inclusion
in this doubling of the chong yang festivities

murphy notorious for the stamina in his drinking

li bai xx-60

in the company of my uncle the district judge of dang tu xian. i visit the hua cheng monastery in the cheng feng pavilion to see the buddhist priest ching sheng

the hua cheng monastery seems created by magic spells
it is a celestial palace graced with golden inscriptions
i would almost think that the clouds flying here from the sea
condensed into these fairy tale towers and balconies

the buddhist priest ching sheng is a brilliant presence
and brings formidable rhetorical talents from the region of the lakes
he thinks first of others with no concern for himself
and exists in this world with no one thinking ill of him

his explication of buddhist doctrine is clear as moonlight on the water
he is a beautiful blue lotus springing from the womb of earth
he sitss quietly in the pure breezes of the pavilion
looking out on all sides to a constantly renewing freshness

and when it becomes too hot in the summer season
he retires to the protection of the spacious hall

murphy having familiar thoughts of giving up the world for simplicity

torusflex

string figures and poetry

murphy’s li tai bo von zach XX

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