My friend lives in the east mountain’s hold,
He loves the beauty here, be it new or old.
He sleeps in the woods in spring day bright,
And never rises till the sun is high.
The wind in the pines refreshes his breast;
The water in the rock cleans his ears and eyes.
I envy you from all worries a rest,
And pillow on the cloud in the blue skies.
故人栖东山，自爱丘壑美。
青春卧空林，白日犹不起。
松风清襟袖，石潭洗心耳。
羡君无纷喧，高枕碧霞里。
This poem is Li Bai's tribute to his close friend Yuan Danqiu's mountain retreat life. Yuan, one of Li Bai's most important Taoist companions throughout his life, shared profound spiritual affinity with the poet. The work not only vividly depicts Yuan's transcendent recluse image but also deeply embodies Li Bai's own yearning for reclusive life and detachment from worldly turmoil.
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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