Title: Sport 39: 2011

Publication details: Fergus Barrowman, 2013, Wellington

Part of: Sport

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Sport 39: 2011

Li Bai

page 118

Li Bai

Ascending Jinling Phoenix Terrace

On Phoenix Terrace the phoenix used to roam.
Gone now, the terrace empty, the river alone flows on.
At the Wu Palace flowers and grasses bury the secluded paths.
Jin officials’ caps and gowns turn into ancient grave mounds.
The three peaks half fallen beyond the blue sky,
the twin streams split apart by White Egret Island.
Floating clouds, it seems, can always obscure the sun.
Chang An—not to see it makes men sad.

At Yellow Crane Tower, seeing off Meng Haoran on his journey to Yangzhou

An old friend leaves the west at Yellow Crane Tower,
in the third month’s mists and flowers, goes down to Yangzhou.
A lone sail’s distant shadow, disappeared into the blue emptiness—
I see only where the Yangtze, reaching to the sky’s edge, flows.

page 119

Going to see the Master of Daitian Mountain, and not finding him in

Dog’s bark amidst waters’ sounds.
Peach blossoms heavy with rain.
Where the woods are deep: sometimes a deer.
Noon by the stream: no temple bell.
Wild bamboo divides the green mists.
Flying springs hang, caught on the blue-green peaks.
Seeing there’s no one who can tell me where he’s gone
I lean disconsolately against a pine or two.

translated by Baziju