Wang Wei Poems

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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....Read more of this...

by Wei, Wang

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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...

by Wei, Wang

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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...

by Wei, Wang

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 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....Read more of this...

by Wei, Wang

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 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?.... 
Hark, on the lake there's a fisherman...Read more of this...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...Read more of this...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...Read more of this...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...

by Wei, Wang

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 THERE were many burning hours on the heartsweet tide,
 And we passed away from ourselves, forgetting all
The immortal moods that faded, the god who died,
 Hastening away to the King on a distant call.


There were ruby dews were shed when the heart was riven,
 And passionate pleading and prayers to the dead we had wronged;
And we passed away, unremembering...Read more of this...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...

by Wei, Wang

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 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...

by Wei, Wang

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 Sometimes I'd walk,
walk far from home,
the things I've seen,
and I alone....Read more of this...

by Wei, Wang

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Since beauty is honoured all over the Empire, 
How could Xi Shi remain humbly at home? -- 
Washing clothes at dawn by a southern lake -- 
And that evening a great lady in a palace of the north: 
Lowly one day, no different from the others, 
The next day exalted, everyone praising her. 
No more would her own hands powder...Read more of this...

by Wei, Wang

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