Song Of The Pines – A Poem By Chinese Poet Po Chu-i
SONG OF THE PINES – In this topic, we will now read the poem entitled “Song of the Pines” from the Chinese poet Po Chu-i.
Po Chu-i, as mentioned above, is a Chinese poet. According to Encyclopedia, he is well-known for his ballads and satirical poems.
Po Chu-i held the view that good poetry should be readily understood by the common people. He exemplified it in poems that is noted for simple diction, natural style, and social content.
Most of his works include Ballad of Everlasting Sorrow, Songs of the Land of Ch’in (the Ch’ang-an district), and the New Music Bureau Poems. This poem, the “Song of the Pines” is also one of his works.
Here is the full poem, which is uplifted from Wenaus:
I like sitting alone when the moon is shining,
And there are two pines standing before the verandah;
A breeze comes from the southwest,
Creeping into the branches and leaves.
Under the brilliant moon at midnight
It whistles a cool, distant music,
Like rustling rains in empty mountains
And the serene harp-strings in the fall.
On first hearing them, the heat of summer is washed away:
And this suffocating boredom comes to an end.
So I keep awake the whole night,
Both the heart and body becoming clear.
Along the south street coaches and horses are stirring,
In the west city sounds of playing and singing.
Who knows that under the roof-trees of this place
The ears are full, but not with noise.
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