Saturday, 26 March 2022

lnhammer: the Chinese character for poetry, red on white background (Default)
Old friend, the seas and rivers parted us,
Divided many times by mountains and streams—
We suddenly meet, and think that it’s a dream.
In mutual grief, we ask about the years.
Alone, the cold lamp shines upon the rain—
Deep, the bamboo’s dark with drifting smoke.
And now we have, next morning, such regret—
So toast this parting cup that we both treasure.

云阳馆与韩绅宿别
故人江海别,
几度隔山川。
乍见翻疑梦,
相悲各问年。
孤灯寒照雨,
深竹暗浮烟。
更有明朝恨,
离杯惜共传。

Staying at a Yunyang Inn with Han Shen and then Parting

This is almost the same poem as #144, isn’t it. Yunyang was a county in what’s now Jingyang, Shaanxi, somewhat west of the capital. (Yes, Sikong is one of those rare two-character surnames.)

---L.

About

Warning: contents contain line-breaks.

As language practice, I like to translate poetry. My current project is Chinese, with practice focused on Tang Dynasty poetry. Previously this was classical Japanese, most recently working through the Kokinshu anthology (archived here). Suggestions, corrections, and questions always welcome.

There's also original pomes in the journal archives.

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