Su Shi (苏轼)

The Great River eastward flows,

With its waves are gone all those 

Gallant heroes of bygone years.

West of the ancient fortress appears

The Red Cliff.Here General Zhou won his early fame 

When the Three Kingdoms were all in flame.

Jagged rocks tower in the air,

Swashing waves beat on the shore,

Rolling up a thousand heaps of snow.

To match the hills and the river so fair,

How many heroes brave of yore 

Made a great show!

I fancy General Zhou at the height 

Of his success,with a plume fan in hand,

In a silk hood,so brave and bright,

Laughing and jesting with his bride so fair,

While enemy ships were destroyed as planned 

Like shadowy castles in the air.

Should their souls revisit this land,

Sentimental,his wife would laugh to say,

Younger than they,I have my hair all turned gray.

Life is but like a passing dream,

I'd drink to the moon which once saw them on the stream.

On the 7th day of the 3rd month we were caught in rain on our way to the Sandy Lake.The umbrellas had gone ahead,my companions were quite downhearted,but I took no notice.It soon cleared,and I wrote this.

Listen not to the rain beating against the trees.

Why don't you slowly walk and chant at ease?

Better than a saddle I like sandals and cane.

I'd fain,

In a straw cloak,spend my life in mist and rain.

Drunken,I am sobered by the vernal wind shrill 

And rather chill.

In front,I see the slanting sun atop the hill;

Turning my head,I see the dreary beaten track.

Let me go back！

Impervious to rain or shine,I'll have my own will.

On the mid-autumn festival,I drank happily till dawn and wrote this in my cups while thinking of Ziyou.

When did the bright moon first appear?

Wine-cup in hand,I ask the blue sky.

I do not know what time of year It would be tonight in the palace on high.

Riding the wind,there I would fly,

But I'm afraid the crystalline palace would be 

Too high and too cold for me.

I rise and dance,with my shadow I play.

On high as on earth,would it be as gay?

The moon goes round the mansions red 

With gauze windows to shed 

Her light upon the sleepless bed.

Against man she should not have any spite.

Why then when people part is she oft full and bright?

Men have sorrow and joy,they part and meet again;

The moon may be bright or dim,she may wax or wane.

There has been nothing perfect since olden days.

So let us wish that man live as long as he can 

Though miles apart,we'll share the beauty she displays.

For ten long years the living of the dead knows nought.

Should the dead be forgot

And to mind never brought?

Her lonely grave is a thousand miles away.

To whom can I my grief convey?

Revived e'en if she be,could she still know me?

My face is worn with care

And frosted is my hair.

Last night I dreamed of coming to my native place:

She's making up her face

At the window with grace.

We gazed at each other hushed,

But tears from our eyes gushed.

When I am woken,I fancy her heart-broken 

On the mound clad with pines,

Where only the moon shines.