Introspection Bird Poems

Chinese translations Li Bai

These are my modern English translations of Chinese poems by Li Bai, who was also known as Li Po.



Zazen on Ching-t’ing Mountain
by...

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a feather falls
the bird knows not
and even if it does
it cares not

objects we cling to
betrays lack of trust
in God’s benedictions 
signalling delusion

let us become
the bird...

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Birds scrubbing the winter's time,
Traded in the cold for so long,
As the first rhythm of spring makes the rain—
They sing in as they drop ostracizing...

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if I could just fly away
to different climes
to my heart’s content
I shall be happy

if I could build my own home
wherever 
the fancy took me
in a...

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Redbird wrings its wings—faces
The safety downward; makes the 
Fall and pain less dear—she's too
Broken in to fly....

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Last trees of leaves flutter bright yellow
Aviary of canaries freed from their cage
By this morning’s first clash of autumn snow

Birds pour out crumble below
Flatten their...

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(1)
Strophe
Slowly and slowly fly the mighty feathers:
the uncanny wrath bearer, the poacher's prey,
the bald bizzare stigmatic cryptic creature, the ecology's majestic role player;
the curtain raiser...

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Agonizing torment is within my soul
Waking up startled, wanting to be whole.
The constant conflict of perceived persona,
Withers away, and flames of her flash with awe.
The...

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Pensive tempered thought
          in light morning fog that picks a fight
     ...

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Hawk out of nowhere
Lands on my fence, infecting
Me with its spirit...

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Looking back, one thing comes clean-glass clear
you were always there for me subduing every fear.

I tried to do my duty, be a husband strong and...

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I wonder about her
as I shave suet and place thistle seed down -

once again

she reveals herself to the corner of my eye
a slight movement caught...

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golden sunny dawn
                      ...

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Trees and birds all whisper my name.
Everything seems to look the same.
So long gone, but my heart you claim, 
In the eve's crimson sunset flame.

Time...

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Wild and Free
   
   Not quite as free
   as a bird

   caged by acronyms 
  ...

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