21 古诗词三首

Lesson Twenty-one

Three Ancient Poems

Autumn Evening in My Mountain Abode

[the Tang Dynasty] Wang Wei

Blank hills look pure as a recent rain refines,

As dusk is falling autumn is felt in the bones.

A silvery moon is shining through the pines,

The limpid brooks are gurgling o'er the stones.

Bamboos laugh out as girls from washing whirl,

The lotus stirs where boats out fishing curl.

The scents of spring may go; that's Nature's will.

This season here attracts the noble still.

Nocturnal Berthing At The Fengqiao Bridge

[the Tang Dynasty] Zhang Ji

Moon’s down, raven’s caw, and the frost-filling skies,

River maples, fishing lights, and the sleep of eternal gloom.

Outskirts of Gusu City and Hanshan Temple,

Midnight toll, and the arrival of the passenger boat.

Homesickness (to the tune of Changxiangsi)

[the Qing Dynasty] Na-lan Hsing-te

A mountain hike,

A river ride,

We head to the Elm Pass side,

Myriad tents lit up at dead of night.

The winds cry,

The snows fly,

The din breaks my heart—dreams subside,

At home no such noise passing by.