The City of Choan
The City of Choan
Li Bai
The phoenix are at play on their terrace.
The phoenix are gone, the river flows on alone.
Flowers and grass
Cover over the dark path
where lay the dynastic house of the Go.
The bright cloths and bright caps of Shin
Are now the base of old hills.
The Three Mountains fall through the far heaven,
The isle of White Heron
splits the two streams apart.
Now the high clouds cover the sun
And I can not see Choan afar
And I am sad.
Verse breaks and indentation are preserved. Wrapped lines have a hanging indent. Width adapts to your screen.
From Cathay (1915). Translation in the public domain. · Translated by Ezra Pound
