On Once Hearing Tung Play the Lute

for Lady Tsi's 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 her story

wept tears on his sleeve

shuddered with grief

 

first bass resounded then treble

leaves in the Forest trembled

war warnings by beacons 

fire flashed from wilderness hilltops to home

whole country covered with dark white snow

 

for his melody

Tung like Orpheus learned music from the gods

demons crept from deep forest to hear him

birds flew up circled around

his music gathered all in

 

slow fast

foreboding

brightening

fading

crescendo   clouds

clear skies east

a young swift came flying

now a child screamed in the wilderness

 

dawn

by the shore of a smooth sea

waves flat 

birds silent

exiles in the north 

men living apart

remembering their homes

sadness receded

for a moment

Tung comforts them 

 

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

translated by David Sen, interpreted by Dick Russell

copyright © Russell and Sen

                2017, 2023