Spring in Qin Garden: Painted Prows Pierce the Sky
- Poetry of Liu Guo

Painted prows pierce the sky,

Red banners whirl like snow,

Sacred drums thunder nigh.

Alas! Qu Yuan drowned, exiled long ago—

His laments for ancient kings,

Mountains and streams brim with woe,

Elders grieve as sorrow clings.

The upright are cast aside,

The wise king long has died—

Can three clans truly Chu’s fate decide?

On the empty river,

Only mist and waves shiver,

While years flow on forever.

With cup in hand,

I gaze west, pacing slow—

Will loyal souls return to this land?

Vain are the races to seize the prize,

Where fish and dragons surge and rise,

Shouts summon courage bold,

Till earth splits and mountains fold.

Fragrant rice wrapped in silk thread,

Talismans pinned on mugwort spread—

Yet children’s hearts by wine are led.

Rise and fall are but a jest,

Left to fleeting clouds at best,

While I stand at heaven’s edge, unblest.

画鷁凌空，红旗翻雪，灵鼍震雷。

叹沈湘去国，怀沙吊古，江山凝恨，父老兴哀。

正直难留，灵修已化，三户真能存楚哉。

空江上，但烟波渺渺，岁月洄洄。

持杯。西眺徘徊。些千载忠魂来不来。

谩争标夺胜，鱼龙喷薄，呼声贾勇，地裂山摧。

香黍缠丝，宝符插艾，犹有樽前儿女怀。

兴亡事，付浮云一笑，身在天涯。