To Prime Minister Zhang: Looking at Lake Dongting – Meng Haoran

To Prime Minister Zhang: Looking at Lake Dongting In August (the eighth lunar month), the lake is peaceful, Boundless waters blend with the sky and Over the Cloud-Dream Marsh a damp mist rises and The waves are breaking against the walls of Yueyang City. I wish to cross the lake, but there is no boat…

Memories of Early Winter – Meng Haoran

Memories of Early Winter The leaves are falling, the wild geese flying south The water is cold here, the wind from the North. I remember my home, where the Xiang River bends Hidden by the clouds of Chu. I weep for my village, ’til my tears are spent I spy a lonely sail that stares…

To Minister Zhang While Gazing at Lake Dongting

Note. Minister Zhang Jiuling held several important posts under Emperor Xuanzong, including head of the imperial library, minister of public works, and commandant of various prefectures. The ancient reader of this poem, acquainted with the history of the imperial court, would know that Minister Zhang fell from favor with the emperor and was dismissed. Thus,…

Spring Dawn

As Poet Meng Haoran observes in four lines of five characters each, some years Spring is late to arrive. The earth is cold and the blossoms on the branches fail to bloom. Crows darken the sky; their stink fills the air. At night, nothing is heard but the sound of wind and rain; in the…

At Zhang Ming’s, A Cold Food Feast

A Cold Food Feast at Zhang’s Home by Meng Haoran A lucky first snow falling a full foot, Evening eases in and just at midnight’s nigh, Mats arrayed, we wine companions beg To cut the candle to a poem’s verse length. Warmed by the fragrant golden ashes of the stove, Her jaded fingers clearly pluck…