Su Dongpo: Calm Wind and Waves

 

[updated September 2022]

 

Calm Wind and Waves

 

定 风 波
与 客 携 壶 上 翠 微
江 涵 秋 影 雁 初 飞。
尘 世 难 逢 开 口 笑,年 少。
菊 花 须 插 满 头 归。
酩 酊 但 酬 佳 节 了,云 峤。
登 临 不 用 怨 斜 晖。
古往今来谁不老,多少。
牛 山 何 必 更 沽 衣。
Ding Feng Bo

Yu ke xie hu shang cui wei
Jiang han qiu ying yan chu fei.
Chen shi nan feng kai kou xiao, nian shao.
Ju hua xu cha man tou gui.

Ming ding dan chou jia jie liao, yun qiao.
Deng lin bu yong yuan xie hui.
Gu wang jin lai shei bu lao, duo shao.
Niu shan he bi geng gu yi.

 

Calm Wind and Waves

With visitors, carry wine pots into the emerald green hills
River contains autumn shadows, wild geese begin to fly.
In this mortal world it is difficult to meet, talk and laugh with friends
Like the young people who insert chrysanthemum flowers into their hair
before they return home.

Propose a toast till drunkeness signals the end of a happy festival time,
Clouds surround tall and steep mountains
Climb these famous mountains does not have to regret the arrival of dusk.
How many through the ages, do not age to some extent
Like Qi Jinggong of the Niu Mountains
Surely we must all die to make way for the next generations to come.

 

Notes:

Qi Jingong:  Emperor for the state of Qi from 547-490 BC.

Niu mountains: Mountain range from northern Sichuan to southern Gansu provinces.