Written in Tang Deming’s Artistic and Cultural Hall of Contemplation
题 唐 德 明 建 一 斋
城 南 前 江 后 山 趾
竹 斋 正 对 寒 江 启。
不 嫌 渔 火 乱 书 灯
只 恐 橹 声 惊 睡 美。
平 生 剌 头 钻 故 纸
晚 知 此 道 无 多 子。
从 渠 散 漫 汗 牛 书
笑 倚 江 枫 弄 江 水。
Ti Tang De Ming Jian Yi Zhai
Cheng nan qian jiang hou shan zhi
Zhu zhai zheng dui han jiang qi.
Bu xian yu huo luan shu deng
Zhi kong lu sheng jing shui mei.
Ping sheng la tou zuan gu zhi
Wan zhi ci dao wu duo yu.
Cong qu san man han niu shu
Xiao yi jiang feng nong jiang shui.
Written in Tang Deming’s Artistic and Cultural Hall of Contemplation
In front of the southern city wall, behind a river and mountain foothills
Open the doors onto the positive scenery of bamboo and cold river water.
No ill will here, a place of fishermen and firewood gatherers, with lanterns and disordered books
Afraid my muffled oar sounds will startle some of them awake.
All his life, his head drilled into ancient pages
I was late coming to realize this blessed life of the Dao.
With your ox loaded down with books, the waterways are many to choose from
Smile thinking of the maple trees, or one can play with the nearby river water.
Notes:
Tang Deming: Story of a man who had a home with a beautiful garden and a main hall that was used as an art studio, retreat, and a place to be inspired to write poetry.
Fishermen and firewood gatherers: In ancient Chinese folklore, these are the people who are so simple they live in a Daoist Paradise.
Maple trees: A historical and literary allusion to Qu Yuan who maybe spent too much time with books, and did not spend enough time enjoying his beautiful surroundings. Qu Yuan wound up eventually to throw himself in a river to drown.