A Midnight Song about Seasonal ChangesA folk song during the North and South Dynasties (420-589)The ice on the lake thickens to three feet;The snow on the road extends to a thousand miles.My heart prevails like pines and cypresses.What’s your love like while snow piles?This is a folk so...

Serenity, Peace and JoyAuthor: Li Bai (701—762)It’s early morning in the polished hall.A servant brings me the news of a snowfall.I raise the curtains to see the auspicious scene outside the window.Through the garden, a spray of white blurs all.The glare of snowy air inspires fire in the stove;The...

Author: Liu Yuxi (772—842)Previous poets all lamented on fall as a bleak time of year;I say autumn outshines spring here.A crane passes clouds to reach the sunny sky;And brings my poetic thoughts all the way up to the azure sphere.Liu was a government official in the Tang Dynasty. During his lifeti...

Author: Du Mu (803—852)A stone-paved path slants up to the chilly hilltop far awayWhere white clouds gather, there are cottages along the way.I have stopped my carriage to enjoy dusk in the maple forest.Maple leaves outshine spring flowers in their crimson array.Du was a Tang Dynasty writer who wor...

Author: Lin Bu (967—1028)Autumn mountains reach out endlessly;Autumn thoughts also know no boundaries.A teal creek carries away red leaves;White clouds dot an evergreen forest in a series.Lin was a Song Dynasty hermit who studied classics on his own. For the love of freedom, he turned down the oppo...

Author: Guan Hanqing (1220—1300)The autumn scenery is worth describing.Red leaves cover the creek in the valley.The pine-tree-lined path slants to please the eye.Yellow chrysanthemums zigzag along the east fence gracefully.For wine being poured into my clear glass, I hold it upright without movemen...

Author: Zhang Ji (715—779)The moon sets while a raven’s call pierces the frosty skyline.Riverside maple trees and fishing lamps accompany me at bedtime as I repine.The Cold Mountain Temple stands outside of Suzhou City.At midnight, a bell tolls there, sending sound waves to the passenger boat of m...

Author: Lu You (1125—1210)Pinkish hands; yellowish wine.Spring fills the garden within its polished wallsalong which willow trees line.Malicious east winds; brief joyful time.A heart of melancholy; a few years of whine.Pine! Pine! Pine!Spring comes as ever; she appears thinner.Tears run through her...