Wang Wei and Pei Di Wheel River Collection 1. Meng Wall Ruins A new house by the gap in Meng Wall - the old woods reduced to a few willows. Those who come, for whom do they return? - empty yearning for what people once had. --- The hut built down by the old wall? I once climbed up onto the old wall. The old wall is not what it once was - now people freely come and go. 2. Huazi Ridge Birds fly off, departing incessantly, into the mountains' returning fall colors. Up and down the Huazi Ridge - thwarted, wistful - a mood with what limit? --- Setting sun, wind in the pines - heading home, dew on the grass. Cloud light creeps into sandal prints - the blue mountains caress our clothes. 3. Apricot Lodge Knotty apricot cut to make rafters - fragrant grasses thatched for the roof. Who knows if clouds in the ridgepoles go out to make rain among people? --- Far off, far off, the Apricot Guesthouse - I'll climb up today, as often before. South, the mountains, and north, the lake - look ahead, then turn to look back. 4. Cut-Bamboo Pass Reedy, leafy, reflected in the empty riverbend, kingfisher-green bamboo bobs on the ripples. A hidden entrance to Shang Mountain road - unknown even to the woodcutters. --- A shining river winds and then straightens - lush bamboo clumps dense and deep. A path runs through to the mountain road - follow it singing, gazing at the old crags. 5. Deer Fence Empty mountains - I see no one, just hear their voices echo. Sunset casts deep in the woods to shine again on the green moss. --- At dusk I watch the cold mountain. A traveler appears, going alone - unaware of deep woods matters, just that there are musk stag tracks. 6. Magnolia Fence Autumn mountains gather fading sunbeams - kingfishers catch flight, friends chasing ahead - variegated colorations in a moment gleam clear - a heavy restlessness of evening mountain mists. --- Misty grey-green while the sun is setting - birdsongs chaotic on a flowing stream - the road by the stream turns into the depths - a shrouded mood - when does it end? 7. Euodia Bank Intertwined fruits, red and green - like flowers in a second bloom. To receive guests in the mountains, serve this in a lotus-blossom cup. --- Fluttering fragrance of pepper and cinnamon floats in the leaves of lithe bamboos. The sun may break through swirling clouds, so the thicket hides to keep itself cool. 8. Temple-Tree Path A path descends, shaded by temple-trees - the dark shadows thick with green moss. Get to the gate! Respectfully sweep it - a reverend mountain monk is coming. --- Here is the gate of the Temple-Tree Path - there lies the way to Yi Lake. Autumn has come, the mountains are raining - fallen leaves, but no one to sweep them. 9. Lakeside Pavilion Glide, skiff, to greet the honored guest, from far afar - now hurry across the lake! On the veranda, with cups of wine - all around, the lotuses bloom. --- On the veranda, rolling waves everywhere - the moon set loose on the undulating motion. Gibbon cries ring from the mouth of the valley - the wind brings them in through the door. 10. South Mound A little boat can get to South Mound - at North Mound the waters are trickier. Peering across at the homes and families - too far away to know who they are. --- A boat left to drift in the tranquil winds at South Mound's lake-lapped shore. The sun sets down behind Yanzi Mountain - a clear wave breaks from the scattering ripples. 11. Yi Lake Blow the flute when you reach the far shore - the setting sun leaves with you, my lord. On the lake, one turn of the head - the green mountains unfurl into white clouds. --- Empty, vast expanse of lake-water - green-glimmering into the radiant sky. Moor the boat - one long whistle - a bracing wind rises all around. 12. Willow Waves Divided by the road, trees link like brocade - an image reversed in limpid ripples. No such pattern on the emperor's moat - the spring breeze laments each departure. --- Reflected in the pool, they appear as one - a quick gust scatters them like silk. Entwining shadows spread over the ground - why must this time in Tao's home fade away? 13. Luan Family Shallows Whooshing wind in the autumn rains - sprinkling droplets drain from spattered rocks. Leaping waves splash against each other - a white egret startles, then settles. --- Shallows-sounds. A hubbub across the river - Walking downstream to the southern ford. Adrift and aloft, gulls and ducks in the crossing - at times they come close to a person. 14. Gold Dust Spring Drink each day from Gold Dust Spring to live at least a thousand years - on kingfisher-phoenix, with soaring striped wyverns, with feathered staff, attending the Jade Emperor. --- Sparkling deep in the placid stillness, gold and jade, as if there for the taking. At sunrise, a mouthful of silken flowers - going alone to tend to the day's water. 15. White Rock Shoals A clear shallow pool at White Rock Shoals, green sweetflag just out of reach. Families dwell both sides of the river, washing linens in the bright moonlight. --- Sitting on a rock by the water once more, kicking up waves - a mood with no limit. Sun down, it's cold on the river, the drifting clouds pale and colorless. 16. North Mound North Mound, to the lake-water's north - silhouetted trees against a red railing. The twisting and turning south river's water glints and glitters into the leafy forest. --- In the South Mountains, by North Mound, a thatched hut overlooking Yi Lake. Just when I was going to get firewood, a flatboat emerged from the wild rice and reeds. 17. Hut in the Bamboo I sit alone, hidden in the bamboo, playing the qin - then a long whistle. Deep in the forest, no one knows - the bright moon comes to shine on me. --- I often visit the hut in the bamboo - day by day, the way becomes familiar. Out and back, only mountain birds - hidden deep, beyond the world of men. 18. Lily Magnolia Basin Lotus flowers float on tree twig tips - red efflorescence on the mountainside. Hut by the river - hush, no people - blurring blossom-ribbons bloom and fall. --- On this hillside, where Spring has sprung, the young prince has lingered too long - in fact, these are lily magnolia flowers, though they do look a little like lotuses! 19. Lacquer-Tree Garden That ancient man, no haughty magistrate, deficient in managing worldly affairs, by chance was given a minor position: the flowering of a few bedraggled trees. --- A childhood love of quiet formed his nature - the fruit of this is abiding acceptance. Today in the lacquer-tree garden I wandered - revisiting the joys of elder Zhuang. 20. Pepper Garden Cassia cups to greet God's children - the pollia bestowed to the beautiful. Pepper broth kettle on chalcedon mat - to summon the lord of the clouds. --- Vermillion thorns are caught in your clothes - fresh scents follow the traveller. By good fortune, they suit the ritual vessel - please, sir, allow me to gather them up. Chinese text: http://brianbrock.com/Wheel River chinese text.txt