Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Autumn Poems from the Chinese, by Li Hai-Ku, Qing Dynasty

 


Autumn (photo Marion Agnew)

AUTUMN by Li Hai-Ku, Qing Dynasty

Hoar frost is falling
And the water of the river runs clear.
The moon has not yet risen,
But there are many stars.

I hear the watch dogs 
In the near-by village.
On the opposite bank
Autumn lamps are burning in the windows.

I am sick,
Sick with all the illnesses there are.
I can bear this cold no longer.

THE JEWEL STAIRS GRIEVANCE by Li Bai, Tang Dynasty

The jewelled steps are already quite white with dew,
It is so late that the dew soaks my gauze stockings,
And I let down the crystal curtain
And watch the moon through the clear autumn. 





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