Out of the east you visit me,
With the rain of Baling still on your clothes,
I ask you what you have come here for;
You say: "To buy an ax for cutting wood in the mountains"
...Hidden deep in a haze of blossom,
Swallow fledglings chirp at ease
As they did when we parted, a year ago....
How grey our temples have grown since them!
客从东方来，衣上灞陵雨。
问客何为来，采山因买斧。
冥冥花正开，飏飏燕新乳。
昨别今已春，鬓丝生几缕。
Five-character-ancient-verse
Composed during Wei Yingwu's service in the capital Chang'an, this poem recounts an unexpected encounter with his reclusive friend Feng Zhu, a virtuous scholar thwarted in official career who dwelled in mountain forests. Through this chance meeting, the poet expresses deep concern for Feng while meditating on life's vicissitudes. Its lighthearted tone belies profound emotional depth, exemplifying Tang literati camaraderie and philosophical reflection.
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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