EVEN NON-KHMER SPEAKERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GUESS WHAT THIS IS

Chruuk touch nih tiw psaa.

Chruuk touch nih niw pteah.

Chruuk touch nih nyam sach koo.

Chruuk touch nih kmian sach sah.

Chruuk touch nih yum, “wii, wii, wii,”

haeuy ruet tiw pteah.

TRANSLATIONS OF SOME CHINESE CLASSICAL POEMS WITH BUDDHIST THEMES

The Temple of Teeming Fragrance,

measureless miles in summit clouds.

Ancient forest, a pathless way.

Deep mountains, directionless bell.

Spring water over jagged rocks.

Yellow sun on cool green pines.

Twilight, winding pool.  Quiet sitting

uncoils the poison dragon of the heart.

     --Wang Wei

Deer Fence

Empty Mountain.
Seeing no one.
Hearing someone's
echoing voice.
The late day sun
enters again
the deep forest,
shining once more
on the green moss.
   --Wang Wei

In my old age, I want only peace.

The ten thousand things are not my concern.

I've no plans for the rest of my life

but to come back to this, my ancient woods.

Piney wind blows my girdle open.

Mountain moon lights upon the lute I play.

So where's the warp and weft of the world?

Fishermen's songs come far up the inlet.

     --Wang Wei

A Buddhist Retreat Behind Broken Mountain Temple

Clear, quiet dawn enters the old temple.
Early sun brightens the forest heights.
Crooked path comes to a secluded space.
A monk's cottage deep in flowers and trees.
Light through the mountains plays over bird flight.
A deep pool mirrors both sky and heart.
Ten thousand sounds of nature are suffused
with the one tone of the temple bell.
     --Chang Jian

Alt:  Ten thousand sounds of nature are resolved
         in the one tone of the temple bell.

TO A JAPANESE MONK RETURNING HOME

Destined to come seeking the source in China.

Your voyage here was like a dream of distance,

floating between heaven and the vast green sea.

Now, the vessel goes lightly that carries the Way.

Water and moon are solitary as your Zen.

Fish and dragons absorb the sound of your chanting.

The single lamp of your compassion, its light

returns to watchers at the heart of the world.

     --Qian Qi

TO SOUTH CREEK SEEKING DAO MAN CHANG IN HIS SECRET PLACE

All along the single path,

footprints in strawberry moss.

White clouds over quiet islands.

Spring grass latching the idle gate.

After rain, the look of the pines.

Up the mountain, the river’s source.

Sitting Zen in flowers by the creek.

Face to face, I forget what to say.

     --Liu Changqing

Beginning a translation of Li Shangyin's series, "Poems for Someone"

POEMS FOR SOMEONE


I.

Your coming was an empty promise.
     Your going was without a trace.
At the fifth bell,
     moonlight slanted across the tower
as I wakened from despairing dreams,
     my cries not calling you back.
These pale words, this hasty letter,
     written before the ink could thicken.
One candle lights half the quilt
     with the kingfisher in a golden cage.
A faint scent of musk
     lingers on the embroidered lotus curtain.
Young Master Liu
     raged at the distance to the faerie hill.
But you are ten thousand mountains,
     ten thousand ranges farther.

A New Du Fu Translation

To Li Bai at Sky's End


Cold wind blows from sky's end.
My friend, what's on your mind?
The wild geese come, but do not tell.
Autumn rains swell the waters.
Good writing disdains good fortune.
Demons delight in passing travellers.
Share your thoughts with that despairing soul.
Drop your poems in his drowning river.

A New Li Bai Translation

TO MENG HAORAN


I love you Meng Fuzi, Master Meng,
free spirit, famous under heaven.
In rosy youth, you spurned cap and carriage.
With snowy head, you lie among clouds and pines,
drunk beneath the moon, remaining the sage,
addled among flowers, serving no lord.
At the foot of your unscaleable heights,
I bow in gathering mountain fragrance.

A New Wang Wei Translation

RETURNING TO MOUNT SONG


Trees flanking the clear stream.
My cart horse ambling on.
Flowing water knows how I feel.
Evening birds come home with me.
Empty town above the old ferry.
Setting sun filling the autumn hills.
Far away from the outside world,
returned to the foot of the mountain.
    --Wang Wei
Alt:  back home at the foot of the mountain.

LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION

When Congress can't agree on a new budget before the old one expires, they can just extend the old budget for a period of time while they continue to try to pass a new budget.  So to demand major concessions or to complain that the other side won't negotiate over a continuing resolution is absurd.