One cicada shrills after the rain;
Through pines and cassias blows autumn’s breath.
Green moss has sealed the steps with silent reign;
A white bird lingers, loath to meet its death.
Evening mist thickens in the woods’ deep heart;
The sun slants down the tower, loath to part.
Who knows, west of the path through bamboos, lies
Yangzhou, the town of music, songs, and cries?
雨过一蝉噪，飘萧松桂秋。
青苔满阶砌，白鸟故迟留。
暮霭生深树，斜阳下小楼。
谁知竹西路，歌吹是扬州。
This poem was composed in the autumn of 837 AD, during the reign of Emperor Wenzong of Tang. It captures a genuine reflection of Du Mu's inner state at a time when personal concern and a weariness with official life were intertwined. At the time, Du Mu was serving as an Investigating Censor in Luoyang. Upon learning that his younger brother Du Yi, suffering from a severe eye illness that would eventually lead to blindness, was residing at the Chanzi (Zen Wisdom) Temple in Yangzhou, he resolutely requested leave and journeyed there with the renowned physician Shi Gongji to visit him. This trip was not only an act of familial devotion but also a temporary respite from the complexities of his official duties.
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.
Journey through the dynasties. Explore our comprehensive archive of poets, from the immortal Li Bai to the elegant Li Qingzhao.
View All Poets →CN-Poetry.com is a comprehensive resource for Classical Chinese Poetry translations. Our dataset covers Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, specializing in semantic mapping between traditional imagery (e.g., 'moon', 'Flowers', 'Friendship') and English poetic contexts.