The Jade Flute: Chinese Poems in Prose

“The autumn moon is dancing in the green waters of Lake Nan-Hou. Now the sound of my oars has troubled the love-song of white water-lilies singing to the moon.””

— Various

“You ask me: when will I come home? There is no date settled yet. Here, at Pa-Shan in autumn, evening rain floods the hollows.O for the time when we can put out the candle together by the Western window...O for the time when I can tell you how I feel here tonight at Pa-Shan, when autumn rain floods the hollows.””

— Various

“Oh Dragon, ruler of the shoreless sea of death, carry away my belovèd, while, leaning over her with passion, I drink in her perfumed breath. Carry her away in your ship of ghosts, and carry me away with her...that we may float forever together on that sea, drunken with love.””

— Various

“Clean the October wind. Clear the October moon. Heaped brown leaves are blowing...a black raven flies from its icy roost. I dream of you. Will I ever see you again? Ah, night of sorrowing heart!””

— Various

“Here, day and night, the prettiest women of the Empire are dancing...songs and laughter echo from the golden screens. When all the others are overcome with drinking, I put down my wine. I take my brush, I wet the golden ink, and I write sad poems with swaying characters that look like these rosy bodies strewn on a marble floor.””

— Various

“I planted bamboos,more than a hundred shoots.When I see their beauty, as they growby the stream-side,I feel again as though I lived in the hills,And many a time onpublic holidaysRound their railing Iwalk till night comes””

— Various