The green willow announces that spring is here
Under the sun apricot blossoms a blaze of fire
Singing birds stir up my feelings of nostalgia
The warm southern breeze fans up my poetic desire
The Xuanwu Gate is thousands of miles away
Oft I dreamed to see my grandma’s recovery*
My classmates still have to study for college entry
I wish by the fall mums to drink to their victory
1978.3 Luoyang
* My grandma broke her thighbone. Never healed in the so called "family ward", a way hospital dealt with the problem of bed shortage, she died after 8 years' confined life in bed.
2. Thoughts in A Moon-lit Evening
夜思1978.3
户外灯光如月光，月光如霜罩楼台。我师ㄦ女尝教我，唐诗三百觅李白。*
*我师，原北京广安中学李振国，评职後因心脏病卒，年仅50。
Outside, like the moon, street lamps shine bright
On the balcony the moon pours her light
I remember how my mentor’s kids once tried
To teach me how among poems Li Po to find
1978.3 Luoyang
* Mr. Li zhenguo is my high school Chinese teacher. At the age 50, he was given the rank of lecturer and died of heart failure.
Snowy pear blossoms
And rosy peach flowers
Skirt the green hills
Overnight came the news
Of spring with mooing cows
And bleating goats
夜行军1978.3
夜国星色淡，桃园树影稀。孤村暄吠狗，深峪过兵急。墙危猫耳张*，路遥农庄密。回还何所向，南下知几里？
*猫 耳 洞 。
3. Military Drill at Night
In the kingdom of pitch dark night
Dim is the shrouded star light
In the gardens of peach trees
Shadows are cast like sparse seeds
Startled dogs barks and howl
In the lone hamlet upon which none cares to call
Our troops march fast in haste,
Through the deep gullies naturally made
Steep is the yellow earth cliff
In which foxholes stare at us as if
The march route is long and zigzagging
Village after village we go passing
Like blind sheep we go and go
How far out none is supposed to know
As spring ends, a howling wind attacks trees
A scene of mountain to collapse in thunder
The autumn leaves fall fast with much ease
A wrinkled pond sends out foams of water
Led colored clouds block the sun’s ray
Thickly dark night dims the stars’ light
A rock however stays its unperturbed way
Of all the things only he show some might
We missed the Lugou Bridge moon of the morning
Seeing only the engraved emperor's brush writing
This site where China and Japan exchanged fire
How many times have we visited there?
Rain falls and makes me playful to play with the rain
The day comes and reminds me to remember it again
How I wish to pay another visit to the hallowed ground
And there, my current city forgotten, I will not turn around.
琴台 1978. 8
高山流水皆不在，此地空余古琴台。漫步湖边无音乐，自问客为何事来？
The Terrace of Zither*
Mountains and waters I detect not
In vain this terrace of zither remains
No music is heard at this friendship spot
Why should I be here, nothing explains
* Qintai - located in Wuchang, Hubei Province, the site commemorates the friendship
between a zither musician and his friend, who could tell whether the music signifies mountains or waters. The musician smashed his zither when his friend died.
In late fall, the chirping of cicadas sounds extremely sad, especially when heard in an empty room.
Every year I hear cicadas in the fall
They sing tirelessly in the days of the season all
Tonight I hear their symphony again
Sadness comes like torrents of rain
They ask about my home far away
Their songs I treat as words of play
How dare I discern intentions of other’s mind
Whomever I meet in life I put them behind
The songs of cicadas I fear much indeed
Like spider webs they cling at you with greed
Why do you tease me, a petty bookworm
And make sadness grow in me like germ?
All of my life is spent in reading books
My best friends with monotonous looks
Serious am I when I open my mouth to talk
And not frivolous when I lift my foot to walk
Please, stop your laughs you devil of the tree
Thus speaking, I am trying to tell thee
With volumes of books that my ambition shame
I know the lengthy road to a scholarly fame
Those who died early have their grave stones stand
Reading them, I’m careful not to enter their land
Even though I might come to the brim of Big Void
A heart-as-ash guide will help me traps avoid
The swift August wind sounds like nomad flutes that complain 13
In the Mangshan Hills, misty clouds bring in the autumn rain 14
North of the Yellow River, the King’s City is nowhere to be found 16
While family mail rarely comes down to this army compound 15
When the moon is dimmed by the clouds, Mid-Autumn is but a nuisance 16
Now I yearn for the New Year's Eve when snow dances with red candles 16
Pitiful am I at this high place alone and no one his sympathy sends 14
Facing the invisible capital I recall when I parted with friends 14
1978.9 Luoyang
*Mangshan - the mountain range north of Luoyang
** the King’s City - the original city built in Luoyang, the site being east of the city today.
The autumn rain beat the broad leaves outside my window
I took it for tears of parting lovers at the gate of border town
At day break, merry songs of birds dispelled my sorrow
When the sky was blue with white clouds and the rain gone
Like rivers flowing east, the good old days are no more
Sadly I face solitude like a resentful boat grounded on shore
Last night at my pillow I heard the accents of hometown
I tried to recall who was there but my memory shut down
All my life I rarely visit the place where I was born
Often I see the Fragrance Hills’ red leaves at this time
My school years were filled with dreamy feelings strong
Yet I achieved nothing thereafter, what a crime!
Old stories of Beijing now have disappeared like lifted fog
In Luoyang my body and heart are like pieces of dead wood
After A Stone’s Story I turn to Taoist masters’ works
And read the Buddhist sutras after being fed with moral food
Summer's blossoms have just died away
The green leaves are now turning red
I usually go to the West Hills for a day
But am now confined to Luoyang like dead
自嘲1978.12.21
学问半年多，长进一点无。对画妒花好，拂天恨玉姝。佛门深似海，曲径通何处。教律何其多，无端缚手足。
踏雪行之一1979.1.11
于岚
匆匆行来，踏碎玉一片。
眼前银光世界，回首狼籍不堪。
再好的风光，也无非一场梦幻。
平生遗恨多少，旧恨未消，新恨又添。
徒生了几根白发，辜负了警世名言。
望白雪纷纷，似欲把青丝再染，天无情。
念故乡旧友，阳春正盼。
知能与谁共，几盆香兰？
畏相逢，彼此无言。
Walking on Snow
Under my hurried feet are crashed pieces of jade
A silver world in front, a mess behind
Pretty sight is but a fantasy of the mind
Many regrets I have, how many I don’t know
Before old ones die, new ones would show
In vain my hair turns gray
For I've ignored life’s wise way
Behold the white snow, as if to dye my hair further so
The heartless heaven is my foe
I think of friends back in the hometown
Who look forward to hearing the spring song
I wonder with whom I shall share
The fragrance of orchid in the air
I fear that when we meet each other
Neither knows the words proper
踏雪行之二1979.1.12
于岚
浮光掠影，清辉冷照寺门寒。
半床残籍今尚在，问何处风云宝剑？
梦常见，含笑且带恨。
每欲零涕，又恐湿衣衫。
战袍空随孱弱，悔不似壮士一般，应羞惭。
而今身隔重山，故乡遥远。
客牛不恋路边草，委曲它鸟语花鲜。
休错认幽燕浪子，迷莫愁管弦。
戍有期，还待解甲归田。
Walking on Snow continued
With glimmering light and shadows
The moon shines on a cold temple door
Dog-eared books still sit at my pillows
Where is the wind-and-cloud sword?
A hatred-hinting smile is oft in my dreams seen
I want to shed tears, but they will my shirts stain
Despite my warrior robe, my soul is weak
Shame that no brave heart in me you can seek
Now far from home, this traveler
Is wary of roadside flirting flower
A vagabond from the Yan mountains north
Will not fall for the music of the south
Service time flows like the hourglass sand
I am waiting to set plow to my land
自解嘲1979.4.4
生无牧民志，与世本无争。奈何沐天恩，猴官辞清风。刁钻日日见，滑稽月月逢。尤以青猿最，秽语不堪听。
兰1979.4.28
愿把身心寄幽泉，山阶露冷一丛兰。静听天外风和雨，不与群芳苦争闲。
Attached to the quiet stream of a mountain spring
Is an orchid by the rocky steps cold with the dew
To the rains and winds yonder she just keeps listening
And from other rival plants she doesn't steal a show
Looking vulgar, she prefers to flirt and seduce
Uncontrollable is her desire to seek others’ praise
The spirit of burnt peony* has long been in disuse
Only riches and vanity do people of today chase
Naming herself as the symbol of prosperity
Peony enjoys a dusty spring of the city
After staying long here and feeling tired
I think of lotus and chrysanthemum I admired
willow trees line a winding bank of lake
light boats, green water, bridge white as jade
pavilions and towers hide in waves of pine
terraces arching the lake face clouds fine
west garden's plants have fragrance in the air
east lake's bamboo groves show new leaves fair
who needs autumn mums for enchantment?
flowers plenty feed the eyes with enjoyment
洛外割猪草1979.8
一
天涯何处无芳草，别人交完我再割。洛阳名城一学府，谁料束休这般多。
二
猪多肥多粮亦多，就是碗里肉不多。僧少道少回回少，就是臭蛋不见少。
秋香 1979. 9
八月桂香浓，抑扬随秋风。盈盈满庭池，无以送亲朋。
As autumn comes the sweet olive trees
Send out a smell sweet and fragrant
The smell fluctuates in the breeze
Filling the yard and the ponds with ease
What a nice gift for a friend absent
Who hasn't for a long time been present
Pity that I can't hold it in my hand
And ask the mailman for me to send
秋晨 1979. 9. 13
蟋蟀鸣衰草，细雨响秋桐。晓岚藏远树，暮叶盖斜径。蝉净庭园寂，人离布衾空。昨宵奇异梦，化作读书声。
On an Autumn Morning
Grass is dying, crickets are chirping
On the Wutong leaves, rain is rustling
In the morning, mist is rising
In the distance, trees are hiding
At the dusk, leaves fall
Covering a path, slant and all
Quiet is the yard, cicadas are gone
Empty is the bed, no one sleeps on
Mystery dreams seen deep into the night
Loud reading heard at the morning sight
When willow trees turn green and flowers bloom
Birds happily welcome the return of spring
Who cares for the work of a scholar’s room
In the spring breeze we set out for an outing
First we visit the White Horse Temple holy
Then at Longmen* we go to the tomb of Juyi*
West of town we hike the verdant trails hilly
Singing’nd drinking we see off Qingming** gaily
1979.4 Luoyang
* The Longmen Grottoes are the third largest collection of Buddhist rock cave sculptures in China. Opposite them across a river is the location of the tomb of Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi (Po Chuyi).
** Qingming Festival- a day for visiting ancestor tombs.
劳动公园看牡丹 1979. 4
四月春来柳絮飞，王城公园牡丹肥。可怜娇花生旱土，风尘尽赶游人归。
In the April's breezy air
Willow catkins fly like snow
Fat are the peonies at the Fair*
Of the capital of Zhou**
The delicate flowers, what a pity
Are bred in a land of dirt
My spring season mood happy
Is spoiled by my dusty shirt
1979.4 Luoyang
* Poeny Fair is held in Luoyang in mid April.
** Luoyang was the capital of the Zhou Dynasty.
赠一凡1979.9.24
一凡考中辽宁财经学院，吾乐其遂愿。
路积连日雨，云待一时风。晓雾尚未尽，苍天已放晴。尺素传嘉话，读罢喜又惊。初酬鸿鹄志，更需磨杵功。
课堂即景1979.10.1
蝉鸣书声寂，课堂座尽虚。秋风推窗进，空卷案头书。
In the Classroom
There is no sound of reading
Only cicadas chirping
In the deserted classroom
All the chairs are waiting
Pushing open the windows
The autumn wind enters
Flipping through the books
That no one really cares
1979.10.1 Luoyang
中秋望月1979.9.6
明月起东天，煌煌若金盘。身悬太空里，光洒大地间。盈亏月月是，唯有中秋圆。分享无知己，回顾独怅然。
. Moon of Mid-Autumn
In the east a bright moon rises
Luminous like a golden pie
Pouring light over the earth
From the vastness of the sky
Every month it wanes and grows
But perfect only on this day
I look around in deep sorrows
For no one hears what I say
In this late autumn I compose this song
In an empty room where something is wrong
I have no wine though I have the money
I have my sorrows to make me happy
My old-fashioned dreams a brisk wind kills
My soul-mate the moon caught by window sills
Friends are far and family not near, no way
Packaged new, I celebrate my day
1979.10.30 Luoyang
咏菊二首1979. 10. 6
一
披卷收放自婀娜，不厕群芳意如何。高洁总召同类恨，傲骨秋霜独见卓。
Always elegant and beautiful
No matter how she does her hair
What is her design meaningful
In avoiding other flowers fair?
Envied by rivals she often is
For her heaven-like cleanliness
More fascinating in frosty time
She shows her beauty in its prime
二
已非百草争盛日，莫怪金蕾开来迟。有意告君春未尽，赏花犹有重阳时。
She comes at a time when plants do not strive
For flattery but her late golden flowers
Are here to tell you spring is still alive
And in autumn we can have petal showers
竹 1980
有节宜直立，无花代代青。竹怜新雨後，堪与共秋风。
Bamboo is straight and upright
Because of its culm connection
Without flowers it keeps a verdant sight
Generation after generation
More adorable they are
After a shower of rain
In the autumn wind
My good companion
无题1980
天生龙友魂，一世尽波奔。皆为他人嫁，怨德是何因？
招止亭晚栖 1980. 5. 28
闲卧秘魔崖，聊读招止亭。鸟归浮暗壑，日暮待闻钟。
At the Mysterious Monster Rock
I lay down to rest
In the Summon-to-Stop Pavilion
Casually I read
Birds returned, floating in the dark valley
I waited for the evening bell of the abbey
1980.5.28 Beijing Badachu
* Zhaozhiting - A pavalion at a cliff by a narrow mountain gorge in the Badachu Park west of Beijing,
** Mimoya - At the same location as Zhaozhiting, it is a huge rock roof sheltering the cave.
Great! thou chrysanthemum at the window
Alone stealest the autumn's beauty show
Sittinge at a seat so loftily high
Thou commandest a panorama view
Thou savorest the self-esteem of solitude
Fishinge for compliments thou considerest low
Thy golden crown is the color of emperor
Wild plants cunnen only before you kowtow
旧译
Great! you chrysanthemum at the south window
Alone you steal the autumn's beauty show
High on the tower you repose your body
Commanding a panorama view
You savor the self-esteem of solitude
Fishing for compliment you consider low
Your golden crown is the color of king
That renders other flowers into nothing
The night rain of the autumn in the wilderness
White-washes the green gauzes of trees
I feel the sudden change of things and see
The intensiveness of autumn scenes
Thick grass are wet with the drops of dew
Sparse leaves bear the print of frost bite
High is the sky and cold the morning winds blow
Low are the clouds that put the sun out of sight
Chrysanthemum glares in dark willow leaves
Its air of pride heavier than floating clouds
A sight seeing man always new things seeks
A left behind goose would miss its old flock
My neck stretching, I often gaze at the north
From there I expect letter bearing geese
Seeing endless roads my heart sinks
I am in no mood for strumming strings
A lover of ladies, I'm often at their service
So as to comfort my soul in a strange land
I thus invite the glare of evil eyes
Bitter remarks send my heart to ice land
Through the window autumn wind comes at night
My quilt is too thin to keep my body warm
Unable to sleep I read with a torch light
Fascinated, I then forget I am in the dorm
Twenty five years have I been in this world
And claim to be a near bookworm
When washing my feet I read Tang poets' words
And English when I use the bathroom
My sorrows I dispel with ink and pen
My leisure I share with those close to me
Common and ordinary are all my friends
Yet they're good enough to make me happy
Think not that weak must be a fair hand
And long hair means wisdom lacks
That Gender and looks tell no people, do understand
Such preference is too much a bias
I will keep my way of behaving myself
And wait for another autumn fine
Then hearing "going home" I will laugh
And remember this birthday of mine
From time to time blows the west breeze
When leaves fall as autumn proceeds
We want to set them on fire but unable to
For the night is cold and wet is the dew
1980.11.16 Luoyang
读<<钗头凤>>1981.2
沈园一曲千古传，非是悲剧不成篇。美谈当与後人讲，文章虽好苦难堪。
33. Reading An Ancient Love Poem*
Their romance has passed down into history
As if nothing is great if not a sad story
The later generations enjoy the love lore
That hides the sufferings of the day
In this deserted suburb I stroll in leisure
The catkins of willows red in sunset glow
West of the town the fields are of sizable measure
Good enough for the Clear and Bright Day show
At the end of the road kids fly kites high
Fresh is the new soil on grave mounds low
Who cares to eat food cold before this day?
The country loves the service from an able hero
忆江南1981.5
春归早，暑气入中原。何处凉风吹绿柳，长江两岸看争帆，最爱是江南。
Remembering the South
Spring retired early
Heat rules the central plain
Where are cool winds and green willows?
And the sails on the Changjiang again?
Missing you, what a pain!
1981.5 Luoyang
荷 1981. 5. 20
栖身池浅宜人赏，结子心高待价沽。根茎深埋污秽里，花香只在水边浮。
Lotus Flower
Lotus in shallow pond has easy access
Bearing seeds that wait for good offer
Deep in dirty mud it buries its roots
Floating fragrance above the water
1981.5.20 Luoyang
窗见1981.7.15
入夜不得眠，醒来犹闻雨，独自对寒碧，檐雀双飞去。
Sleepless night
Waking up, rain still in sight
Alone I am in the verdant coldness
Two sparrows flew away
From under the eaves
秋夜1981.9.6
秋深雨亦静，断续恼无眠。岂欲凭栏久，不忍妒婵娟。
Hushed is the rain at the autumn's tail
On and off it disturbs my repose
Desire I not lingering by the rail
I can't bear the full moon I suppose
赴试之前1981.9.11
月华如雪照无痕，怜光岂问秋与春。蟾宫不欲能折桂，只爱清辉共佳人。
Moon light on ground is like seamless snow
I love it, in fall or spring may it be
I care less for academic laurel
Than sharing it with a fair lady
浣溪纱--中秋，1981八月十五於洛外三系第二听力室
对影无需已三人，洛阳城外月色新。喧声未断暮深沉。
案几残籍无意展，推窗自向夜长吟。促织切切不成文。
We are here three, no need for a shadow
Outside the city the moon looks so new
Late into the night can still be heard voices
The worn books on the desk I have no mood to read
Opening the window I try to chant a poem instead
But I can't compose, for the symphony of crickets
Endless is the big universe
Each year sees death and birth
Reincarnation makes attachment futile
Should you let go do not hold on another while
Hounds get cooked after game is in hand
Bows hang idle when birds are killed as planned
I as nothingness fear not dust gathering
My heart is with the bell in clouds tolling
旧译
Reading My Old Poems
The world is a trip with no end
And life has ups and downs
Reincarnation being the rule
What else can't we forsake?
The hound gets cooked after the game
And the arrow burnt after the birds
In a dusty world I am but nothing
My heart tied to bells in clouds
2016/1/18 新译
The world is but an endless journey
Vicissitudinous life can be
Reincarnation means no attachment
What can't be let go at the right moment?
Hounds get cooked after rabbits are shot dead
Bows are put away when birds are exhausted
In a dusty world I am but nothing
My heart tied to bells in clouds tolling
The sun sinks west
The late breeze soft
Bright stars see the rising moon rays
Through tree leaves
Passing house eaves
It. shines brighter than on mid-autumn days
Rippling water feeds a pond so cold
Soft light comforts earthly soul
A lofty heart detached from worldly cares
The moon rises in the east
A human knowing beast
Leaves fall fast
Racing the west wind
Breaking moon light into jade. of small piece
Wanting a full moon
For how many years
My eyes sour at watching home-bound geese
Time has worn out my life in central plain
My friendship searching soul worked in vain
Now my buddy is only nature itself
In the east the moon ascends
The human mind it understands
无题1982.1.1
乐极忘悲暂寻欢，为把忧愁付流年。斗转星移旧岁去，几多残梦在明天。
In extreme happiness we tend to forget
Our sadness to search for short-lived fun
With the passing year we'd rather let
Time take our sorrows and run
The Big Dipper turns as the year drips away
What dreams do we have of yesterday?
Over the vast sky rain washes the lonely autumn
The Pipa playing in dreams stir up my thoughts of home
Floating in the sky, a lone goose loses her home bound goal
Drifting in the sea, a light sail wanders like a lost soul
Green willows once told me the message of spring
Jade clouds soon revealed my stupid desiring
Facing a wall, I am now devoted to reading and writing
With a heart of Zen I now desire nothing
DAD和韵两首
As autumn leaves tell the forever told romance
I visit the desolate Shen Garden in the morning
The rock paths are swept by the people of the house
The pond grass, unattended, await a guest's coming
I seek and search but nowhere can I see any love's trace
Leaning on a rock, I sketch the willow trees full of sad grace
Duckweeds are curious about the ancient love lore
Scars and wounds fill my eye with lamentable sore
题文种墓1983.11.13绍兴
越王赐剑几多春？石碑犹恨妒贤人。天下大夫谁记取，古来君王多负恩。
The king rewarded your work
With a sword to kill yourself
Now silently your tomb stone points
To his jealousy but how many
Really know that the Prince is
Forever a betrayer?
When the moon shined brilliant and bright
And the boats on river presented a nice sight
I alone toured the south of the Yangtze river
Accompanied by my shadow, and none other
Beautiful the autumn scene was
The moon in clouds shy as a miss
Charming though the West Lake was
It was cruel to see a lovers’ kiss
At dusk I boarded a junk on the river
For Suzhou, an overnight journey
Surprised I was by a beauty before me
How she looked like Xi Shi, the prettiest girl ever
An amorous companionship
Was what I had desired most of my life
How I wanted to be her Romeo
To take her as my wonderful wife
I wanted to give her some kind of suggestion
Yet I was too shy to make a proclamation
I composed my speech in my heart
But hoped she would make the start
Then suddenly I realized how hard
It was to transfer my residence to her part
And the tragedy of Pushkin the cuckold
Made all my fantasy cold
If you want to live in peace
Better content with some common piece
This was an advice Shanghai guys gave me
When we talked about matrimony
Don’t be head over heel for pretty faces
Think of possible complications
After all we are all specific cases
Of the force of social relations
（Translation edited 2019)
新年1983.12.31
岁暮隔窗听人语，闲来无事乱写竹。好遣孤独遗脑後，新年伊始便读书。
With next door neighbors in my ear
At the last moment of the year
I took a brush pen to paint bamboo
No parties for me and nothing to do
I want to forget the loneliness
Of spending New Year companionless
Morning is hours away
It starts as a study day
昭君怨1984.12.31
岁末轻歌曼舞，忘却此身何处。旧梦醒还寒，笑疯癫。
故里房前叶落，羞煞洛阳骚客。七载异乡人，再一春？
I dance away the year with a soft song
And forget where I am
When I wake up from dreams the cold is still strong
How silly I am
Leaves fall in the yard back home
What a shame to this wandering bard
How much longer shall I be here
Another year is hard
碧城诗草1985.8；1996，2.Waco
碧城山中月，洛邑汉宫秋。往事常回首，流年怨悠悠。
Here in Yunan I see the moon in the mountain
I think of the autumn in palace of the east capital*
Old memories come back often like a fountain
Years of laments are like rivers that forever flow
Luoyang was the east capital in the Zhou, Sui and Tang Dynasties.作者: fanghuzhai 时间: 2019-7-28 13:19 修改：
