The Poet Du Fu

[khiemtran]

The poet Du Fu (Tu Fu in Wade-Giles) is a literary hero of mine, in spite of the fact that he nearly ruined my last attempt at a novel by turning out to be too close to one of my supposedly fictional characters.


Looking At The Springtime, translated by Arthur Cooper

In fallen States
hills and streams are found,
Cities have Spring,
grass and leaves abound;

Though at such times
flowers might drop tears
Parting from mates,
birds have hidden fears:

The beacon fires
have now linked three moons,
Making home news
worth ten thousand coins;

An old grey head
scratched at each mishap
Has dwindling hair,
does not fit its cap!