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Climbing high on the hill to gaze out to sea,
Six turtles’ bones now frosted, where are the three mountains flowing?
Fu Sang half-broken, white day sinks in light and color.
Silver platforms and golden towers like a dream,
Qin and Han emperors in vain.
Elite guards, exhausted by wood and stone,
Yellow-faced monkeys with nothing to rely on.
You do not see the beauty of the mountain, the lush valleys all turned to ash,
Shepherds’ children come to climb.
Thieves steal precious jade,
Elves can do nothing to stop them.
Poor soldiers and weapons now so weak,
How can one ride the flying dragons in the tripod lake?
登高丘而望遠海，六鰲骨已霜，三山流安在？
扶桑半摧折，白日沉光彩。
銀臺金闕如夢中，秦皇漢武空相待。
精衛費木石，黿鼉無所憑。
君不見驪山茂陵盡灰滅，牧羊之子來攀登。
盜賊劫寶玉，精靈竟何能。窮兵黷武今如此，鼎湖飛龍安可乘？
Li Bai (701-762), considered one of China’s greatest poets alongside Du Fu, lived during the Tang Dynasty’s golden age of poetry. Known for his vivid imagery and deep emotion, Li Bai’s work spans about 1,000 poems on themes like nature, friendship, and existential reflections. Celebrated for his spontaneous verse and exploration of Taoist ideals, Li Bai’s poetry also deeply admires the natural world and ancient times, often challenging life’s ordinary constraints. His depiction of China’s landscapes combines natural beauty with personal sentiment. Earning the title ‘Poetry Immortal,’ Li Bai’s influential poetry is globally admired for its artistic and philosophical depth.
Image: MidJourney/DALL-E 2