This is a long complex poem by DuFu with a lot of Daoist and astrology symbolism. Please I would appreciate comments and criticism because of its difficulty.
秋兴八首
By 杜甫 (Du Fu)
玉露凋伤枫树林，巫山巫峡气萧森。
江间波浪兼天涌，塞上风云接地阴。
丛菊两开他日泪，孤舟一系故园心。
寒衣处处催刀尺，白帝城高急暮砧。
夔府孤城落日斜，每依南斗望京华。
听猿实下三声泪，奉使虚随八月查。
画省香炉违伏枕，山楼粉堞隐悲笳。
请看石上藤萝月，已映洲前芦荻花。
千家山郭静朝晖，一日江楼坐翠微。
信宿渔人还泛泛，清秋燕子故飞飞。
匡衡抗疏功名薄，刘向传经心事违。
同学少年多不贱，五陵衣马自轻肥。
闻道长安似弈棋，百年世事不胜悲。
王侯第宅皆新主，文武衣冠异昔时。
直北关山金鼓振，征西车马羽书迟。
鱼龙寂寞秋江冷，故国平居有所思。
蓬莱宫阙对南山，承露金茎霄汉间。
西望瑶池降王母，东来紫气满函关。
云移雉尾开宫扇，日绕龙鳞识圣颜。
一卧沧江惊岁晚，几回青琐照朝班。
瞿唐峡口曲江头，万里风烟接素秋。
花萼夹城通御气，芙蓉小苑入边愁。
朱帘绣柱围黄鹤，锦缆牙樯起白鸥。
回首可怜歌舞地，秦中自古帝王州。
昆明池水汉时功，武帝旌旗在眼中。
织女机丝虚月夜，石鲸鳞甲动秋风。
波漂菰米沈云黑，露冷莲房坠粉红。
关塞极天唯鸟道，江湖满地一渔翁。
昆吾御宿自逶迤，紫阁峰阴入渼陂。
香稻啄余鹦鹉粒，碧梧栖老凤凰枝。
佳人拾翠春相问，仙侣同舟晚更移。
彩笔昔游干气象，白头吟望苦低垂。
Autumn desire [excitement] in eight stanzas
Jade dew exposes withered diseased maple forest,
On Wu [Sorcerer] Mountain over Wu Gorge, forest dreary and dark.
River waves rush to meet the heavens,
Another [boat] ride through the gorge with my immortal companion.
The Chrysanthemums bloom again [twice] touched by the sun’s tears,
Lone boat ties up at the heart of hometown.
All the people everywhere are measuring and altering their winter clothes,
The Baidi town anvil urgently rings out the evening.
Kui* honors your home alone within the city walls,*
Big Dipper dependable as Wangjing is resplendent.
Listen for the fall of the monkey’s fruit to the sound of three tears,
offer tribute to the void in the eighth month.
To paint without awareness (care), like burning incense and hiding under the pillow,
mountain mansion with white [noodle?]turrets, sad, leaning on a reed whistle.
Please look at the stone above the vine, turnip moon,
Pause and reflect on the island before the reeds blossom.
*Kui - Grotesque mythical monster with a ravenous appetite
A thousand schools on the mountains is quiet outside the city wall and the Royal Court of Korea.
one sun river mansion bearing bluish green jade from Wei.*
*Ancient state near present day Chongqing.
Stay two nights with fisherman one may return floating, floating.
Clear full autumn swallow always fly, fly.
One is not rectified by memorials to the emperor, scholarly honors frivolous,
Liu faced exam and passed on experience, relieved to disobey.
Many younger classmates, but not lesser [lower],
five hills clothed in cavalry frivolous and corrupt[manure].
Well known path to Chang’an resembles Go [game yiqi],
hundred years of life cannot bear the sadness[grief].
All aristocracy residences are in Xinjiang have new owners,
civil and military attire different from the past.
The defeated retreat North to Great Wall,
The campaign west to conscript troops and vehicles is long and delayed.
The lonely fish dragon, cold autumn in the river,
Ancient country[gùguó] should store up until at least equal.
The island of the immortals palace opposite Nanshan,
Take charge and expose the gold stalk of the Imperial Court is only gossip.
West turns towards the Jade Lake and surrender to the Queen Mother,
East comes to the Purple Cloud* shrouded pass next.
*auspicious portent in astrology
Clouds move over pheasant’s tail and horse’s tail to open the palace fan,
sun moves around dragon scales to know and record sacred continence.
One low blue green river bring worries of late harvest,
how many of the young do back to the morning class.
Startled by the empty river gorge and mouth at Qujiang,
Far away [thousands of miles] news of smoke receive silk harvest time.
Flower sepals pressed between city walls resists unpleasant smells,
Few Lotus flowers in the garden causes concern.
Vermilion flag hanging on the pillar around yellow crane,
Brocade cable, ivory mast, flock of white gulls.
Looked back, pitiful singing and dancing in the field,
Qin Emperor from times immemorial head of state.
Kunming lake water, Han time of great achievement,
Emperor’s military banners is in view.
Weaving girl [folk tale and Vega star] weaves silk by the moonlight,
stone whale scales change the autumn winds.
In storms drift mushrooms and rice immersed in dark clouds,
The house is filled with the nectar of pink lotus.
The fortress of heaven only accessible by the most treacherous road,
In all the rivers and lakes there is only one old fisherman.
Elder brother and I turn down lodging to wander,
amethyst pavilion on the highest overcast peak of rugged waves.
Fragrant rice so plentiful it is parrot’s food,
Green jade from Wuqi [in Taiwan] venerable like fenghuang[phoenix].
Beautiful woman arranged like green jadeite [kingfisher] in the spring [ask],
Immortal companion like a boat in the evening to take one further and further.
The appreciation to compose in ancient times was to roam in the clouds,
Old age [moans]to look forward to a bitter and painful decline.
Edited by shunyadragon, 13 September 2010 - 11:33 AM.
