Lu Yu: Pass By the Three Peaks of Mt. Lingshi

 

[updated November 2022]

 

Pass By the Three Peaks of Mt. Lingshi

 

过 灵 石 三 峰
奇 峰 迎 马 骇 衰 翁
蜀 岭 吴 山 一 洗 空。                                                                                          拔 地 青 苍 五 千 仞
劳 渠 蟠 屈 小 诗 中。
Guo Ling Shi San Feng

Qi feng ying ma hai shuai weng
Shu ling wu shan yi xi kong.                                                                                                   Ba di qing cang wu qian ren
Lao qu pan qu xiao shi zhong.

 

Pass By the Three Peaks of Mt. Lingshi

Extraordinary peaks from my horse, this declining old man frightened
After the Shu mountain range and Wu mountains, everything clean and empty.                                                                                                                                         Mt. Lingshi arises from the valley floor, bluish-green five thousand meters straight up
Peaks coiled and bent like the middle of a small poem.

 

Notes:

Mt. Lingshi: Located around the city of Fuqing, Fujian Province. Now a national park.

 

Commentary:

Have to admit I had to read that last line several times.  What a remarkable and unique metaphor.