Fame renounced, I dwell at ease—
Why must one chase Canglang’s seas?
Herbs I plant in deep shade thrive,
Closed gates make noise forget to strive.
Woods’ slumber teems with dawn’s faint dreams,
Crows scatter, startled by sunbeams.
A flake of snow with dark clouds sails,
Whirlwinds steal fruit-scent from the vales.
Our next meet waits where blue skies end—
Yet wistful, I scent orchids bend.
去名即栖遁，何必归沧浪。
种药幽不浅，杜门喧自忘。
林眠多晓梦，鸦散惊初阳。
片雪幽云至，回风邻果香。
佳期碧天末，惆怅紫兰芳。
This poem was composed during the Mid-Tang period when Qian Qi was living in reclusion, dedicated to his friend Bao He. Bao, a literary companion of similarly refined and reclusive temperament, shared the poet's ideals. Through depicting the serene simplicity of hermetic life, the poem expresses Qian's aspiration to transcend worldly clamor and commune with nature, while also conveying longing and spiritual resonance with his friend. The verses, understated yet profound, blend scene and sentiment seamlessly, embodying the quintessential mountain-forest ethos and spiritual pursuits of High Tang literati.
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
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