11 March 2008

Autumn 768

Tu Fu

Climbing the Yo-yang tower by the water at Tung-t'ing

for a long time I had heard about the lake of Tung-t'ing

now I am actually climbing the Yo-yang tower

the water splits the lands of Wu to the east and Ch'u to the south

day and night the sky and earth can be seen floating

I have no word of friends or family

old and ill, I am alone on my boat

war horses have blocked the way north through the mountains

I lean on the parapet and these tears run down