Book 50 - "Poems of the Late T'ang" translated by A.C. Graham

[kittiwake]

Continuing the Chinese theme, this book contains a selection of poems by eight poets of the late T'ang dynasty (late eighth century to mid-ninth century), together with an interesting introduction about the difficulties of translating Chinese poetry.

"An Excursion to the Dragon Pool Temple on Chung-nan" by Meng Chiao

A place which the flying birds do not reach,
A monastery set on the summit of Chung-nan.
The water where the dragon dwells in always blue:
The mountain since the rain lifted is fresher still.
I came out on foot above the white sun,
Sit leaning over the brink of the clear brook.
The soil is cold, the pines and cassias stunted:
The rocks are steep, the path turns off course.
When the evening chimes send off the departing guest
The notes I count drop from the farthest sky.