[updated September 2022]
River Pavilion
江 亭
坦 腹 江 亭 暖
长 吟 野 望 时
水 流 心 不 竟
云 在 意 俱 迟。
寂 寂 春 将 晚
欣 欣 物 自 私。
故 林 归 未 得
排 闷 强 裁 诗。
Jiang Ting
Tan fu jiang ting nuan
Chang yin ye wang shi
Shui liu xin bu jing
Yun zai yi ju chi
Ji ji chun jiang wan
Xin xin wu zi si.
Gu lin gui wei dei
Pai men qiang cai shi.
River Pavilion
Warm and genial river pavilion, eternal present easily experienced
Long time chant and compose in the open country, gaze into the
distant scenery.
Flowing water and heart-mind without force or resistance
Slow moving clouds centered and complete.
Almost dusk, spring very calm and quiet
Happy and flourishing things balanced naturally.
Can not yet return home to the old-growth forests
This type of poem an attempt to dispel true feelings of being shut-up inside.
Notes:
Heart-mind: The Chinese character xin (心) literally means both the heart and mind. In the English language we separate the two, whereas in Chinese they can be one combination of things, two sides to one coin, one word. When I read this poem, Laozi comes to mind.