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Wang Wei Short Poems

Famous Short Wang Wei Poems. Short poetry by famous poet Wang Wei. A collection of the all-time best Wang Wei short poems


by Wang Wei
In the slant of the sun on the country-side, 
Cattle and sheep trail home along the lane; 
And a rugged old man in a thatch door 
Leans on a staff and thinks of his son, the herdboy.
There are whirring pheasants? full wheat-ears, Silk-worms asleep, pared mulberry-leaves.
And the farmers, returning with hoes on their shoulders, Hail one another familiarly.
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No wonder I long for the simple life And am sighing the old song, Oh, to go Back Again!



by Wang Wei
 Down horse drink gentleman alcohol 
Ask gentleman what place go 
Gentleman say not achieve wish 
Return lie south mountain near 
Still go nothing more ask 
White cloud not exhaust time 


Dismounting, I offer my friend a cup of wine, 
I ask what place he is headed to.
He says he has not achieved his aims, Is retiring to the southern hills.
Now go, and ask me nothing more, White clouds will drift on for all time.

by Wang Wei
 As the years go by, give me but peace, 
Freedom from ten thousand matters.
I ask myself and always answer: What can be better than coming home? A wind from the pine-trees blows my sash, And my lute is bright with the mountain moon.
You ask me about good and evil fortune?.
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Hark, on the lake there's a fisherman singing!

by Wang Wei
 Sometimes I'd walk,
walk far from home,
the things I've seen,
and I alone.

by Wang Wei
 My heart in middle age found the Way.
And I came to dwell at the foot of this mountain.
When the spirit moves, I wander alone Amid beauty that is all for me.
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I will walk till the water checks my path, Then sit and watch the rising clouds -- And some day meet an old wood-cutter And talk and laugh and never return.



by Wang Wei
 Weicheng morning rain moisten light dust 
Visitor house green green willow colour new 
Urge gentleman further finish one cup alcohol 
West outside Yang Pass no friend person 


At Weicheng morning rain has dampened light dust, 
By the hostel, the willows are all fresh and green.
I urge my friend to drink a last cup of wine, West of Yang Pass, there will be no friends.

by Wang Wei
 Under the crescent moon a light autumn dew 
Has chilled the robe she will not change -- 
And she touches a silver lute all night, 
Afraid to go back to her empty room.

by Wang Wei
 White rocks jutting from Ching stream
The weather's cold, red leaves few
No rain at all on the paths in the hills
Clothes are wet with the blue air.

by Wang Wei
 Spring pond deep and wide

Time for the vessel’s return

Slow the duckweed flows together

Willows draw them apart again

by Wang Wei
 Fly bird go no limit 
Join mountain again autumn colour 
Up down Huazi Ridge 
Melancholy feeling what extreme 


A bird in flight goes on without limit, 
Joined hills are autumn's colours again.
From top to bottom of Huazi Ridge, Melancholy feeling has no end.

by Wang Wei
 I'm idle, as osmanthus flowers fall,
This quiet night in spring, the hill is empty.
The moon comes out and startles the birds on the hill, They don't stop calling in the spring ravine.

by Wang Wei
 Round a turn of the Qin Fortress winds the Wei River, 
And Yellow Mountain foot-hills enclose the Court of China; 
Past the South Gate willows comes the Car of Many Bells 
On the upper Palace-Garden Road-a solid length of blossom; 
A Forbidden City roof holds two phoenixes in cloud; 
The foliage of spring shelters multitudes from rain; 
And now, when the heavens are propitious for action, 
Here is our Emperor ready-no wasteful wanderer.

by Wang Wei
 Autumn hill gather surplus shine 
Fly bird chase before companion.
Colour green moment bright, Sunset mist no fixed place.
The autumn hill gathers remaining light, A flying bird chases its companion before.
The green colour is momentarily bright, Sunset mist has no fixed place.

by Wang Wei
 High beyond the thick wall a tower shines with sunset 
Where peach and plum are blooming and the willowcotton flies.
You have heard in your office the court-bell of twilight; Birds find perches, officials head for home.
Your morning-jade will tinkle as you thread the golden palace; You will bring the word of Heaven from the closing gates at night.
And I should serve there with you; but being full of years, I have taken off official robes and am resting from my troubles.

by Wang Wei
I dismount from my horse and I offer you wine, 
And I ask you where you are going and why.
And you answer: "I am discontent And would rest at the foot of the southern mountain.
So give me leave and ask me no questions.
White clouds pass there without end.
"

by Wang Wei
 The red-capped Cock-Man has just announced morning; 
The Keeper of the Robes brings Jade-Cloud Furs; 
Heaven's nine doors reveal the palace and its courtyards; 
And the coats of many countries bow to the Pearl Crown.
Sunshine has entered the giants' carven palms; Incense wreathes the Dragon Robe: The audience adjourns-and the five-coloured edict Sets girdle-beads clinking toward the Lake of the Phoenix.

by Wang Wei
 Light cloud pavilion light rain
Dark yard day weary open
Sit look green moss colour
About to on person clothes come 

There's light cloud, and drizzle round the pavilion,
In the dark yard, I wearily open a gate.
I sit and look at the colour of green moss, Ready for people's clothing to pick up.

by Wang Wei
 Fine apricot cut for roofbeam 
Fragrant cogongrass tie for eaves 
Not know ridgepole in cloud 
Go make people among rain 

Fine apricot was cut for the roofbeam, 
Fragrant cogongrass tied for the eaves.
I know not when the cloud from this house Will go to make rain among the people.

by Wang Wei
 Sitting alone
in the hush of the bamboo grove
I thrum my lute
and whistle lingering notes.
In the secrecy of the wood no one can hear -- Only the clear moon comes to shine on me.

by Wang Wei
 The woods have stored the rain, and slow comes the smoke 
As rice is cooked on faggots and carried to the fields; 
Over the quiet marsh-land flies a white egret, 
And mango-birds are singing in the full summer trees.
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I have learned to watch in peace the mountain morningglories, To eat split dewy sunflower-seeds under a bough of pine, To yield the post of honour to any boor at all.
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Why should I frighten sea gulls, even with a thought?

by Wang Wei
 Wingceltis goldenrain shine empty bend 
Fresh and green ripple ripples ripples 
Secret enter Shang hill road 
Woodcutter not able know 


Wingceltis and goldenrain shine at the empty bend, 
Fresh and green, rippling ever onward.
A secret road leads up to Shangshan hill, Even the woodcutter does not know.

by Wang Wei
 Empty hill not see person 
Yet hear person voice sound 
Return scene enter deep forest 
Duplicate light green moss on 


Hills are empty, no man is seen, 
Yet the sound of people's voices is heard.
Light is cast into the deep forest, And shines again on green moss.

by Wang Wei
 With its three southern branches reaching the Chu border, 
And its nine streams touching the gateway of Jing, 
This river runs beyond heaven and earth, 
Where the colour of mountains both is and is not.
The dwellings of men seem floating along On ripples of the distant sky -- These beautiful days here in Xiangyang Make drunken my old mountain heart!

by Wang Wei
 The limpid river, past its bushes 
Running slowly as my chariot, 
Becomes a fellow voyager 
Returning home with the evening birds.
A ruined city-wall overtops an old ferry, Autumn sunset floods the peaks.
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Far away, beside Mount Song, I shall close my door and be at peace.

by Wang Wei
 You also come from my home town,
You must know all the home town news.
At dawn, before the silken window, Is it too cold for plum blossom to show?


Book: Reflection on the Important Things