h3mlocke

The Complete Cold Mountain: Poems of the Legendary Hermit Hanshan

Translation: Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt

Part One: Original Poems, Circa Late Sixth to Early Seventh Century

33

A five-colored phoenix
lives in a paulownia, eating bamboo nuts.
It moves slowly with decorum,
there’s a peaceful tone in its song.
Why did it come out yesterday?
Perhaps, to spend some time with me.
When it hears my harp and singing,
it dances, rejoicing in the day!

Prev | ~~Next~~
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32
Hanshan wiki

The Complete Cold Mountain: Poems of the Legendary Hermit Hanshan

Translation: Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt

Part One: Original Poems, Circa Late Sixth to Early Seventh Century

32

Young women play at dusk
as the breeze fills the road with fragrance.
With golden butterflies sewn on their skirts,
jeweled duck hairpins adorn them.
Even their maids wear fine red silk,
and their eunuchs dress in purple brocade.
But look! Those who lose the way
become frightened when their hair turns white.

Prev | ~~Next~~
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31
Hanshan wiki

The Complete Cold Mountain: Poems of the Legendary Hermit Hanshan

Translation: Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt

Part One: Original Poems, Circa Late Sixth to Early Seventh Century

31

A cuckoo atop a flower
chirps in a lovely voice.
A beautiful woman whose face is like a jewel
looks toward it and strums her harp.
Playing like this is not enough.
We long for love when we are young,
but flowers and birds both fly away.
I shed tears facing the autumn wind.

Prev | Next
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30
Hanshan wiki

The Complete Cold Mountain: Poems of the Legendary Hermit Hanshan

Translation: Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt

Part One: Original Poems, Circa Late Sixth to Early Seventh Century

30

Last spring, when birds were warbling,
I thought of my brothers, young and old.
Now, in autumn, as chrysanthemums decline,
I think of my own birth.
Deep green rivers make me weep,
the dust of battles covers the land.
What a pity! Within a hundred years
the capital city of Xian was destroyed.

Prev | Next
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29
Hanshan wiki

The Complete Cold Mountain: Poems of the Legendary Hermit Hanshan

Translation: Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt

Part One: Original Poems, Circa Late Sixth to Early Seventh Century

29

Raising girls brings up many fears.
Those already born should be trained well.
Push at their heads to make them attentive,
whip their backs to keep their mouths shut.
If they can’t operate a shuttle and loom,
how can they use brooms and dustpans?
Old woman Zhang tells her donkey foal,
“When you grow up, don’t be like your mother.”

Prev | Next
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28
Hanshan wiki

The Complete Cold Mountain: Poems of the Legendary Hermit Hanshan

Translation: Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt

Part One: Original Poems, Circa Late Sixth to Early Seventh Century

28

Wandering, I arrive at Above the Sky Pavilion,
where I climb the hundred-foot tower in vain.
Even if we nurture life, our lives are short,
how will making myself study turn me into a lord?
It’s useless to follow the advice of immature people.
Why should I be ashamed of my white hair?
Not yet as straight as an arrow,
I won’t be bent like a hook.

Prev | Next
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27
Hanshan wiki

The Complete Cold Mountain: Poems of the Legendary Hermit Hanshan

Translation: Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt

Part One: Original Poems, Circa Late Sixth to Early Seventh Century

27

In the village where I live,
people flatter me as incomparable.
Yesterday, I went to the city
and was glared at by dogs.
People either hated my narrow pants
or said my jacket was too long.
While the sparrow hawk’s eyes are crossed,
sparrows dance with confidence.

Prev | Next
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26
Hanshan wiki

Are people just out there editing wikis, slinging death threats around?