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