Thursday, January 11, 2018

After Lunch


After Lunch


after the meal: doze off for one nap;
waking, it’s time for two bowls of tea—
raise my head to gaze at the sun; it’s
already turned southwest, light slanting—
those who are glad rue the urgent sun;
those who grieve hate the distant new year—
those knowing neither grief nor gladness
bear life, long or short, to the far shore



translation © Jack Hayes 2018
based on Bai Juyi: 食後
Shí Hòu



Image links to its source on Wiki Commons:
Excerpts from Bai Juyi's "Biography of a Master of Drunken Poetry": calligraphy by Fujiwara no Yukinari(972 – 1028); detached section of a handscroll mounted as a hanging scroll; ink on paper – early 11th century.
Public domain



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