Reading Laozi
Those who speak do not know, those who know are silent,
I heard this saying from the old gentleman.
If the old gentleman was one who knew the way,
Why did he feel able to write five thousand words?
poem by Bai Juyi
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Drunk Again
Last year, when I lay sick,
I vowed
I'd never touch a drop again
As long as I should live.
But who could know
Last year
What this year's spring would bring ?
And here I am,
Coming home from old Liu's house
As drunk as I can be!
poem by Bai Juyi
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The Philosopher
“Those who speak know nothing;
Those who know are silent.”
These words, as I am told,
Were spoken by Lao Tzu.
If we are to believe that Lao Ttzu
Was himself one who knew,
How comes it that he wrote a book
Of five thousand words?
poem by Bai Juyi
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Returning Late on the Road from Pingquan on a Winter's Day
The mountain road is hard to travel, the sun now slanting down,
In a misty village, a crow lands on a frosted tree.
I'll not arrive before night falls, but that should not concern me,
Once I've drunk three warm cups, I'll feel as if at home.
poem by Bai Juyi
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The Red Cockatoo
Sent as a present from Annam
A red cockatoo.
Coloured like the peach-tree blossom,
Speaking with the speech of men.
And they did to it what is always done
To the learned and eloquent.
They took a cage with stout bars
And shut it up inside.
poem by Bai Juyi
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An Invitation to Mr Liu
Green ant new unstrained beer
Red clay small fire stove
Evening come sky almost snow
Can drink one cup not?
Green lees of beer that's newly brewed,
A little stove of red clay burns.
As evening comes, the sky's about to snow,
Can you drink one cup with me?
poem by Bai Juyi
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On the Lake (2)
Little child paddle small boat
Drift pick white lotus back
Not know hide trace
Duckweed one path open
A little child paddles a little boat,
Drifting about, and picking white lotuses.
He does not know how to hide his tracks,
And duckweed's opened up along his path.
poem by Bai Juyi
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The Poem on the Wall
My clumsy poem on the inn-wall none cared to see.
With bird-droppings and moss's growth the letters were blotched away.
There came a guest with heart so full, that though a page to the Throne,
He did not grudge with his broidered coat to wipe off the dust, and read.
poem by Bai Juyi
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Resignation
Don't think of the past;
It only awakens painful regrets.
Don't think of the future;
It paralyzes with uncertain longings.
Better by day to sit like a sack in your chair;
Better by night to lie like a stone in your bed.
When food comes-open your mouth.
When sleep comes-shut your eyes.
poem by Bai Juyi
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On Being Stricken With Paralysis
Good friends,
Why waste your time in wailing
And in sympathy for me?
Surely, from time to time,
I shall be strong enough
To move about a bit.
As for travel,
On land there are carrying-chairs,
And on the water there are boats;
So, if I can but keep my courage,
What need have I of feet ?
poem by Bai Juyi
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