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Ancient Air #5
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Li Bo 699-762
How Lush and verdant Taibai Mountain!
Stars rise and thickly cluster above.
Separated from heaven
by a mere three hundred li...
So remote
it is cut off from the world.
In its midst
a raven haired elder,
Cloaked in clouds
reposing on the snow of pines.
he does not laugh
he does not speak,
Silently resides in a cliff's cave.
I come and meet this True Man,
Kneel, my back straight
asking for the precious prescript.
With a broad smile
baring jade-white teeth,
He bestows upon me the alchemical method.
From deep in his bones
the words issue forth,
Then, extending his body
he's already gone like lightening.
Upward I gaze
but cannot reach him,
Suddenly the five passions burn.
I shall prepare the cinnabar elixir,
And quit forever the men of this world.
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Tàibái Hé Cānɡcānɡ
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Lǐ Bó 699-762
Tàibái hé cānɡ cānɡ,
Xīnɡchén shànɡ sēn liè.
Qù tiān sānbǎilǐ,
Miǎo ěr yǔ shì jué.
Zhōnɡ yǒu lǜfàwēnɡ,
Pī yún wò sōnɡ xuě.
Bú xiào yì bù yǔ,
Zhì qī zài yánxué.
Wǒ lái fénɡ zhēnrén,
Chánɡ ɡuì wèn bǎojué.
Càn rán hū zì shěn,
Shòu yǐ liàn yào shuō.
Mínɡ ɡǔ chuán qí yǔ,
Sǒnɡ shēn yǐ diàn miè.
Yǎnɡ wànɡ bù kě jí,
Cānɡ rán wǔ qínɡ rè.
Wú jiānɡ yínɡ dānshā,
Yǒnɡ yǔ shìrén bié.
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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.
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