Several times, Robert Okaji has given us his take on classic Chinese poems, based on literal translations found at chinese-poems.com. He admits to liberal interpretation in his versions, based on his perspective in life. Inspired by Bob, I have decided to try my hand at it and will post some of those as I hone my “skills.” In the meantime I present this very liberal interpretation (actually, an adaptation imagining a meeting with Bob) of a classic Chinese poem by Tu Fu, Written for Scholar Wei. The original translation, as presented at chinese-poems.com appears at the bottom.

An Evening with a Poet in Texas

Many years behind us, never to have met
Distant, apart like Orion and Scorpio
But now, we meet on this special evening
One night, like a candle
Burning brief, but bright
While we sit here, gray
Talking of poets past
Would it come as…