Poet Gallery (III): Qu Yuan / Li Bai

2008/6/9 9:56:56

Before falling ill, I said I would use seven-character regulated verse to paint portraits of the world's poets whom this ID has deemed worthy since ancient times, assembling a gallery of poets. Now that the condition has somewhat stabilized, this ID must continue to honor that promise. The gallery reopens today — just past the Dragon Boat Festival, so let us begin with Mr. Qu, and bring along that old rascal Tai Bai.

Qu Yuan

Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán

The mountain spirit chants the wind, singing through purple mist

A single song of Li Sao, suspended in the ninth heaven

Where in this dusty world can one wash one's feet?

In this turbid age, who is worthy to question heaven?

The road stretches endlessly — searching above and below

Fog spreads thick and rank — repelling the foul and fetid

A broken body leaps into the sea to repay the stars and moon

The soul of Chu summons the Dragon Boat

Tai Bai

Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán

Earth stretching, sky spanning — no mold could contain him

Immortal talent, proud bones — impossible to subdue

Driving clouds, chasing dreams, soaring over the sea of poetry

Embracing the moon, unburdening the heart, falling into the wine vat

Ambitions carried in vain, returning to the Great Elegance

Years cast away, vanishing like the Yangtze

Only a lone shadow remains, sitting on a solitary peak

Never tired of gazing — how many pairs has the world seen?