Title: The Temple of Zen Wisdom at Yangzhou
▪
题扬州禅智寺
Author: Du Mu ▪ 杜牧
Poetic Form: lǜshī ▪ 律诗Apologies, individual character links no longer available for this poem...1. (雨 + 过) + (一 + 蝉 + 噪)
(rain + to pass) + (one + cicada + loud chirping)
gloss: After the rain, a cicada is chirping loudly
2. 飘 + 萧 + 松 + 桂 + 秋
to flutter + sad + pine + cassia + autumn
gloss: The pine and cassia trees make their sad
autumn rustling
3. (青 + 苔) + 满 + (阶 + 砌)
(green + moss) + full + (steps + steps in layers)
gloss: Green moss covers the steps
4. (白 + 鸟) + (故 + (迟 + 留))
(white + bird) + (intentional + (tardy + remain))
gloss: White birds intentionally linger
5. (暮 + 霭) + 生 + (深 + 树)
(dusk + mist) + to produce + (deep + tree)
gloss: Deep forests rise out of the dusky mist
6. (斜 + 阳) + 下 + (小 + 楼)
(slanted + sun) + to descend + (small + building)
gloss: Slanted rays of sun fall upon the/a small
building
7. 谁 + 知 + (竹 + 西 + 路)
who + to know + (bamboo + west + road)
gloss: Who knows/knew that West Bamboo Road
8. (歌 + 吹) + 是 + (扬 + 州)
(song + to blow) + to be + (Yang + Zhou)
gloss: The songs in the wind come from
Yangzhou
The Temple of Zen Wisdom at Yangzhou
translation by Jessica Alexander ©The rain passes leaving one cicada to his clamorous song and
The pine and cassia trees quiver with their sad autumn rustling.
Green moss conceals the layered steps while
White birds idly, purposefully linger.
From the dusky mist rise deep, dense woods and
The sun's oblique rays fall upon the small tower.
Who knew that to West Bamboo Road
Would blow the songs of busy Yangzhou?