Grief Chinese Poems

The Song of Magpies
by Lady Ho
translation by Michael R. Burch

The magpies nest on the Southern hill.
You set your nets on the Northern hill.
The magpies escape,...

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Silk merchant 's gaze, a practical sweep,
Fine thread he seeks, where shadows sleep.
A finger points, with eager grace,
"This crimson hue, a rare embrace!"

Young maiden stands,with...

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Chinese Poets: English Translations

These are modern English translations of poems by some of the greatest Chinese poets of all time, including Du Fu, Huang O,...

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Two cousins, uncles, aunt and sister,
filed silent through the parlour door,
stood round her body's grey composure,
transfixed, unmoving, no sound, unsure.

Three brothers knelt beside her casket,
none...

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I left home in dreams of battlefield glory,
When Pea flower dot the golden brown cole
In the delicate bloom of late spring.
I cycled to the frontlines,
Wheels...

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I

These days I forgive myself everything. After all
I'm alone and unhappy so I give myself a little treat
whenever possible. On summer nights I remember
the good...

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DEMETER AT THE CHINESE OPERA


So, I invited you to the Chinese Opera impulsively
Thinking of masks and dragons and triumphant mystery
I though it was time we...

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At the end of the thought
was sadness.
When temple lies broken
a little white lotus comes up
on the tranquil lake.

A cute word enters the lone voice,
stands down,...

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