Mountain Songs

Ascending The Mountain On Double Nine

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Taibaishan in the Zhongnan Range, west of Xian

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Ascending The Mountain On Double Nine

         Li Bo 699-762

Yuangming, "Returning Home",
Did not follow the ways of the world.
Since he was lacking the stuff of the goblet,
He befriended a local magistrate.
And having hailed the man in white,
With a smile
        they poured out
                some yellow chrysanthemum wine.

I, in coming here, did not fulfill my hopes,
In vain I passed the time this "Double Nine."
How exceptional
        he for whom the carriage was designated!
So let us keep our engagement
        south of the city wall!
Massing earth
        into a rise that connects with Mount Xiang,
Looking down the banks of the Wan River.
Northland barbarians call upon jade flutes,
Girls of Yue play their "frosted strings."
To make oneself the descendant of generals,
In pleasures which none can spy.
Crimson carp surge up under Qin Gao,
White tortoise leads forth Bing Yi.
If the immortals are like them,
Pour a libation and they will know from afar.

All those who've "climbed high" since times of old,
How many are still there today?
If on Cang Isle old promises break,
One can still await the days to come.
Chains of mountains look like startled waves,
Their folded layers emerge from a darkened sea.

I raise my sleeves and wave to those seated around,
In drunkenness what do they know?
Singing songs of Qi, send goblets all around,
And all rise up in formless dance.
The guests depart with the scattering of leaves,
A hat flies off with the autumn wind.
After parting I climbed this tower,
Wanting to speak of "Longing for You."

Jiǔ Rì Dēnɡ Shān

Lǐ Bái 699-762

Yuānmínɡ ɡuī qù lái,
Bù yǔ shì xiānɡ zhú.
Wéi wú bēi zhōnɡ wù,
Suí ǒu běn zhōu mù.
Yīn zhāo báiyīrén,
Xiào zhuó huánɡhuājú.
Wǒ lái bù dé yì,
Xū ɡuò chónɡyánɡ shí.
Tí yú hé jùn fā,
Suì jié chénɡ nán qī.
Zhù tǔ àn xiǎnɡ shān,
Fǔ lín wǎnshuǐ méi.
Húrén jiào yùdí,
Yuènǚ dàn shuānɡsī.
Zì zuò yīnɡ wánɡ zhòu,
Sī lè bù kě kuī.
Chìlǐ yǒnɡ qín ɡāo,
Báiɡuī dào fénɡ yí.
Línɡ xiān rú fǎnɡ fú,
Diàn lèi yáo xiānɡ zhī.
Gǔ lái dēnɡ ɡāo rén,
Jīn fù jǐ rén zài.
Cānɡzhōu wéi sù nuò,
Mínɡrì yóu kě dài.
Lián shān sì jīnɡ bō,
Hé tà chū mínɡhǎi.
Yánɡ mèi huī sì zuò,
Mǐnɡ dǐnɡ ān suǒ zhī.
Qí ɡē sònɡ qīnɡ shānɡ,
Qǐ wǔ luàn cēn cī.
Bīn suí luòyè sàn,
Mào zhú qiūfēnɡ chuī.
Bié hòu dēnɡ cǐ tái,
Yuàn yán chánɡ xiānɡ sī.

Translator: Paula Varsano 翻譯者

Notes:
Translation from Paula Varsano's great book on Li Bo, Tracking the Banished Immortal, The Poetry of Li Bo and Its Critical Reception, University of Hawaii Press, 2003. Page 273.