Du Fu: Tang Cheng

 

[updated September 2022]

 

Tang Cheng

 

堂 成
背 郭 堂 成 荫 白 茅
缘 江 路 孰 俯 青 郊。
桤 林 碍 日 吟 风 叶
笼 竹 和 烟 滴 露 梢。
暂 止 飞 乌 将 数 子
频 来 语 燕 定 新 巢。
旁 人 错 比 扬 雄 宅
懒 惰 无 心 作 “解 嘲”。
Tang Cheng

Bei guo tang cheng yin bai mao
Yuan jiang lu shu fu qing jiao.
Qi lin ai ri yin feng ye
Long zhu he yan di lu shao.

Zan zhi fei wu jiang shu zi
Pin lai you yan ding xin chao.
Pang ren cuo bi yang xiong zhai
Lan duo wu xin zuo “Jie Chao”.

 

Tang Cheng

Tang Cheng is placed behind a city wall in the shade, in front is white cogon grass
Outskirts greenery, the paths along the river now well known.
Alder tree forest obstructs the sun, wind through the leaves chant
Mist-covered bamboo drips thin dewdrops.

Transient crows stop flying here, raise their numerous young
Swallows frequently arrive and talk about their calm and new nests.
Poor households mistakenly compare my house to theirs
Feeling lazy and without ambition, I compose this poem “to explain away things“.

 

Notes:

Tang Cheng: The name of Du Fu’s new house and property.