The evening river is level and motionless --
The spring colours just open to their full.
Suddenly a wave carries the moon away
And the tidal water comes with its freight of stars.
By Yang-Ti, Emperor of the Sui Dynassty from 605-617
(Chinese Poems, edited by Arthur Waley)
A great poem of enormous serenity and beauty! Thank you for posting it, dear Melissa.
ReplyDeletei like the way this moves from stillness to purpose.
ReplyDeletesomething to emulate...
(lots of water poems this week)
xo
... yes Mim and Susan, I agree .... I like, too, the feeling of fullness and things about to bloom and burst forth .... lovely, thank you Melissa (and for retrieving this poem from history and from my hasty deletion to show us here...)
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about Oriental poetry is that it leaves the reader craving for more.
ReplyDelete'And the tidal water comes with its freight of stars.'
Yes, and what happens when it arrives? The question circle your head until you realise that it's up to YOU and your imagination to ccmplete that passage.
Great poem.
Greetings from London.
Wonderful poem. I think I'll float it by my rowing son. Thank you.
ReplyDelete