Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Spontaneous Mountain Verse

Translation of Wei Wang, based on this exchange with Stephen Pentz

寂寞掩柴扉, 
蒼茫對落暉。 
鶴巢松樹遍, 
人訪蓽門稀。 
嫩竹含新粉,
紅蓮落故衣。
渡頭燈火起,
處處采菱歸。

Lonely quiet closing firewood gate,
Facing vague and ashen falling sun.
Cranes in lazy nests on top of pines,
People rarely visit wicker door.
Soft bamboo dusted with new powder,
Old red lotus clothes fallen away.
Lantern fires on jetty cast a light,
Water chestnut pickers everywhere.