Parting from Wang Wei (after Meng Haoran)
These quiet days are ending
and now I must leave.
I miss my home’s fragrant grasses
but will grieve at parting – we’ve
eased each other’s burdens on this road.
True friends are scarce in life.
I should just stay there alone, forever
behind the closed gate.
The transliteration on Chinese-poems.com reads:
Quiet end what wait
Day day must go return
Wish seek fragrant grass go
Grieve with old friend separated
On road who mutual help
Understanding friend life this scarce
Only should observe solitude
Again close native area door
O at the Edges 
A worthy companion to Meng’s great poem. Why in this case do you not consider this a translation of Meng’s? Curious.
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This is perhaps as close to a translation of a Chinese poem as I can get. I’m reluctant to place my attempts among those of the individuals who can actually read, write and speak the language, or who work with those who can. I’m in awe of, for example, Arthur Sze, who is able to look at the components of the characters that comprise a poem, and bring forth nuances that I’d never be able to consider. Ignorance holds me back. I do what I can, and derive great joy and satisfaction from working with these poems, but I’m conscious of my limitations, and even regret them a little. If I only had more time. Ah, wasted youth…
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Very moving, Robert, and very beautiful. I’m always amazed at how you take the transliteration, which I have trouble interpreting, and create a subtle and touching poem that does, in fact, seem to capture what the original poet meant.
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Thanks, Willow. When looking at these, I try to determine the answers to two questions: who’s speaking, and why (to what purpose). The answers insert me into the poems, and enable what I hope results in passable efforts.
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Both with a beauty of their own.
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And Meng deserves the credit for that. His poem is timeless.
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🙂
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Witchcraft, I tellya, it’s witchcraft! But it’s GOOD witchraft. *easy smile*
Ron
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I prefer wizardry. Ha!
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Beautiful
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Thanks!
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Robert – very beautiful and thought provoking! Thank you so much for dropping by and “liking” my poems “No conscience” and “Who am I?”.
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The pleasure was all mine. Thank you!
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The saddest, truest thing I’ve read in a while. Beautiful, indeed
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As true today as it was nearly 1300 years ago!
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Chinese poetry often has a quiet, tranquil, contemplative quality, and this is one of those poems. Thanks for posting!
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There’s much packed into those few words. Thanks for reading!
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Reblogged this on Reviews & Recommendations and commented:
❤ this.
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Thank you for the reblog and the comment!
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You’re welcome.
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“True friends are scarce in life ” is a profound remembrance that fills my heart with gratitude–for my friends and for your poetic soul.
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I, too, am grateful for my true friends. Thank you for your kindness.
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Beautiful. enjoyed the poem. Regards, Iris
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Thank you, Iris.
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This is beautiful. How did this come about? Was it inspired by words from the translation of the original poem?
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Thank you. Yes, I wanted to attempt my own version of the original. I’m so pleased you like it.
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