Autumn Meditations (8)
Du Fu


Kunwu Yusu come winding
Purple pavilion peak dark enter Meipi
Fragrant rice peck surplus parrot grain
Emerald wutong perch old male phoenix female phoenix branch
Beautiful woman gather green spring mutual ask
Transcendent companion same boat evening more move
Colour brush before already invade air image
White head recite gaze bitter low hang
From Kunwu, Yusu river winds round and round,
Purple Tower mountain's shadow enters Meipi lake.
Fragrant rice; pecking; leaving surplus; parrots; grains;
Emerald wutong; perching; growing old; phoenixes; branches.
Beautiful women gather green feathers, talk to each other in spring,
Immortal companions share a boat, move on in the evening.
My coloured brush in olden days captured the image of life,
My white head drones and gazes, bitterly hanging low.


View Chinese text in simplified characters.

Other Chinese poems about Age and Autumn.

Notes: To the south of the capital, Yusu river led from the Kunwu area past Purple Tower mountain in the southern hills to Meipi lake. The coloured brush refers to a story in which it represents poetic talent.