Wang Can Poems

A collection of select Wang Can famous poems that were written by Wang Can or written about the poet by other famous poets. PoetrySoup is a comprehensive educational resource of the greatest poems and poets on history.

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Hut Among the Bamboos

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....Read more of this...

Thinking of My Brothers in Shantung on the Ninth Day of the Ninth Month

by Wang Wei
 Alone now in a strange country,
feeling myself a stranger,
On this bright festival day
I doubly pine for my kinsfolk.
Far away, I know my brothers
will be climbing the heights
With dogwood sprays in their jackets,
and one man missing!...Read more of this...

A Green Stream

by Wang Wei
I have sailed the River of Yellow Flowers, 
Borne by the channel of a green stream, 
Rounding ten thousand turns through the mountains 
On a journey of less than thirty miles.... 
Rapids hum over heaped rocks; 
But where light grows dim in the thick pines, 
The surface of an inlet sways with nut-horns 
And weeds are lush along the banks....Read more of this...

Duckweed Pond

by Wang Wei
 Spring pond deep and wide

Time for the vessel’s return

Slow the duckweed flows together

Willows draw them apart again...Read more of this...

At Parting

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." ...Read more of this...

Birds Calling in the Ravine

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....Read more of this...

Looking Down in a Spring-rain

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,...Read more of this...

Temple Tree Path

by Wang Wei
 Narrow path sunless temple locust tree 
Deep dark much green moss 
Should gate except meet sweep 
In case have hill monk come 


A narrow, sunless path to the temple tree, 
Deep and dark; abundant green moss. 
Wait by the gate when finished sweeping the yard, 
In case a monk should come down from the hill....Read more of this...

The Cornel Grove

by Wang Wei
 Bear fruit red and green 
Again as if flower further open 
Hill at if remain guest 
Place here cornel cup 

When bearing fruit it's red and green, 
As if the flowers were budding again. 
If a guest remains on the hill, 
Set a cup of cornel here....Read more of this...

Remembrance

by Wang Wei
 A red berry grows
in the south country --
The boughs are full of them
when spring arrives.
Gather some, I pray,
and fill your pockets --
These are the best
forget-me-knots!...Read more of this...

My Retreat at Mount Zhongnan

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.... 
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...Read more of this...

Replying to Subprefect Zhang

by Wang Wei
 Old age think good quiet 
Everything not concern heart 
Self attend without great plan 
Empty know return old forest 
Pine wind blow undo belt 
Hill moon light pluck qin 
Gentleman ask end open reason 
Fisherman song enter riverbank deep 


Now in old age, I know the value of silence, 
The world's affairs no longer stir my heart. 
Turning to...Read more of this...

In My Lodge at Wang Chuan(After a Long Rain.)

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.... 
I have learned to watch in peace the mountain morningglories, 
To eat split dewy sunflower-seeds under a bough of pine,...Read more of this...

Wei City Song

by Wang Wei
 Wei City morning rain 
dampens the light dust. 

By this inn, green, 
newly green willows. 

I urge you to drink 
another cup of wine; 

west of Yang Pass 
are no old friends....Read more of this...

In The Hills

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....Read more of this...

Mengcheng Col

by Wang Wei
 New house Mengcheng entrance 
Old tree surplus sorrow willow 
Come person again for who 
Only sorrow former person be 


Who will come after, I do not know, 
He must feel sorrow for those in the past....Read more of this...

Lily Magnolia Enclosure

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....Read more of this...

Farewell

by Wang Wei
 Farewell to the bushy clump close to the river
And the flags where the butter-bump hides in forever;
Farewell to the weedy nook, hemmed in by waters;
Farewell to the miller's brook and his three bonny daughters;
Farewell to them all while in prison I lie—
In the prison a thrall sees naught but the sky.

Shut out are the green fields and birds in...Read more of this...

To Wang Lun

by Li Po
 I was about to sail away in a junk,
When suddenly I heard
The sound of stamping and singing on the bank—
It was you and your friends come to bid me farewell.
The Peach Flower Lake is a thousand fathoms deep,
But it cannot compare, O Wang Lun,
With the depth of your love for me....Read more of this...

A Song Of A Girl From Loyang

by Wang Wei
There's a girl from Loyang in the door across the street, 
She looks fifteen, she may be a little older. 
...While her master rides his rapid horse with jade bit an bridle, 
Her handmaid brings her cod-fish in a golden plate. 
On her painted pavilions, facing red towers, 
Cornices are pink and green with peach-bloom and with willow, 
Canopies of...Read more of this...

Jinzhu Ridge

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....Read more of this...

An Early Audience at the Palace of Light. (Harmonizing a poem for Secretary Jia Zhi.)

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...Read more of this...

Seeing Off Yuan the Second on a Mission to Anxi

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...Read more of this...

Fields and Gardens by the River Qi

by Wang Wei
 I dwell apart by the River Qi,
Where the Eastern wilds stretch far without hills.
The sun darkens beyond the mulberry trees;
The river glistens through the villages.
Shepherd boys depart, gazing back to their hamlets;
Hunting dogs return following their men.
When a man's at peace, what business does he have?
I shut fast my rustic door throughout the day....Read more of this...

Huazi Ridge

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....Read more of this...

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