On Once Hearing Tung Play the Lute
for her melody
music such as a breeze would blow
by a spring among reeds and willow
tree
eighteen verses sung so sadly hard
men cried
our envoy hearing Lady Tsi
wept tears on his sleeve
shuddered with grief
then war warnings by beacons
fire flashed from wilderness hilltops to
home
whole country covered with dark
white snow
first bass resounded then treble
leaves in the Forest trembled
for his melody
Tung like Orpheus learned music from
gods
demons crept from deep forest to
hear him
birds flew up circled around
his music gathered all in
slow fast
foreboding
brightening
crescendo clouds
clear skies east
a young swift came flying
a child screamed in the
wilderness
by the shore of a smooth sea
waves flat birds silent
exiles in the north
men living apart
remembered their homes
sadness receded
for a moment
Tung comforts them
dawn
melancholy
majestic
suddenly set free
by a long gust of wind shaking
trees
sudden rain drumming on roof tiles
torrents tree trunks
branches swept by flash floods
wild deer come running
Don’t make Tung play for the
Emperor
let his music stay free
unspoiled by fortune or fame
we wish he’ll visit again
Li Ch’I
T'ang Dynasty
translated by David Sen,
interpreted by Dick Russell
copyright © Russell and Sen
2017
