xviii-01 i escort censor han as he leaves for guang di
xviii-02 the song of white clouds, for liu, 16th of his clan, as he leaves to return to the mountains
xviii-03 i escort abbot tong as he returns to the yan jing monastery
xviii-04 i escort a friend as he leaves
xviii-05 taking leave of departing friends
xviii-06 on the banks of the yang zi i take leave of the daoist nun chu san qing who will visit heng shan
xviii-07 i take leave of a friend who goes to si chuan
xviii-08 an appreciation of the buddhist priest zhao mei
xviii-09 taking leave of li qing as he returns to hua yang chuan
xviii-10 i take leave of my younger brother
xviii-11 i say goodbye to a parting friend
xviii-12 i take leave of underdistrict judge ju, 10th of his clan
xviii-13 i escort baccalaureate zhang at xiu zai as he leaves to visit governor gao shi
xviii-14 in jiu jiang i take leave of my younger brother who is a police officer in po yang
xviii-15 i take leave of my uncle li yun, proof reader of the cabinet offices
xviii-16 i take leave of the honored student wang as he leaves to visit his parents
xviii-17 together with the duke of wu i take leave of du xiu cai as he leaves for the ju ren prefecture in chang an
xviii-18 drunk on the shores of dong ting lake i take leave of lu gao, governor of jiang zhou, who is exiled to li zhou
xviii-19 with several friends i escort major chen as he returns to heng yang
xviii-20 i take leave of secretary zhao who leaves for the camp of his uncle the governor of qian fu
xviii-21 i escort secretary lu as he leaves to visit the pi pu gorge
xviii-22 i escort liang, 4th of his clan, as he leaves for dong ping
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xviii-01

i escort censor han as he leaves for guang di

censors i knew in the past had not your especial luster
tonight i will borrow money and we can get drunk
we can look out on east mountain and enjoy the moon
you, a second bao yuan ming, all night long singing drunken songs

murphy as a sophomore always up for a good keg party

xviii-02

the song of white clouds, for liu, 16th of his clan, as he leaves to return to the mountains

billowing white clouds are stacked over the mountains of chu and qin
wherever you go these clouds of friendship follow you
you also always follow them
when you walk in the chu mountains
the clouds follow you there
when you cross over the xiang river
the clouds cross over the river
they are like ivy growing on the spruce
only they are wraps of white clouds over the water
get a good night’s sleep and start early tomorrow

murphy mixing his similes and his particulars

xviii-03

i escort abbot tong as he returns to the yan jing monastery

i have heard the landscape around yan jing monastery is special
it evokes many historical memories in those who visit there
orange trees are planted among the rocks alongside the lang gung
the gate is hidden deep within the spruce, put there by the head man

adepts of the dao, such as yourself, know how to tame the wild tiger
you will disappear up the side of the mountain swinging your walking stick
i would very much like to visit you there in the future
perhaps meeting at the mouth of the valley of the nan ling

murphy as ever imagining the benefits of life as a hermit

xviii-04

i escort a friend as he leaves

beyond the northern suburbs lie the dark hills
then the white water of the river running toward the eastern cities
you will be lonely on this journey of yours
blown like a thistledown ten thousand miles away

scudding clouds above skitter along the way you will go
as the sun begins to settle for the night i think of our friendship
when we finally part you signal me with your hand
our horses neigh, equally reluctant to separate

murphy hating graduation and seeing his students leave forever

xviii-05

taking leave of departing friends

i have taken the liberty of providing a jereboam of wine
it awaits in the inn on the wei river to be drunk before we sleep
pear blossoms there cover the thousand trees like a blanket of snow
young willow leaves are a fog billowing among the drooping branches

for the pain of separation i will empty full pitchers of fine wine
as a token of my friendship i offer a horsewhip as a parting gift
i see you now leaving ying shang xian at the full moon
the current new moon will be swollen by the time you get there

murphy always ready for a wee drop of the creature

xviii-06

on the banks of the yang zi i take leave of the daoist nun chu san qing who will visit heng shan

the daoist nun chu san qing was born in wu jiang
today she is wearing a lotus blossom headdress
and colorful garments are yet not wet from the rain
her appearance different than the cloud fairies of yang tai terrace

the shoes she wears will wear well as she travels
now she walks along the way near waters spitting a white spray
she wishes to see the immortals in the southern mountains
there she might even meet the fairy wei fu-ren, daughter of wei shu

murphy only sometimes believing in leprechauns

xviii-07

i take leave of a friend who goes to si chuan

i am told of the ancient ruler of si chuan can cong
that the path to his country is difficult to travel
the mountains rise steeply in the face of the wanderer
the ears of his horses must penetrate the clouds

thick trees line the plank road from shen si to si chuan
in the spring the swollen streams flood the capital
and as you know one’s fate has already been determined
so you not need visit the soothsayer yan zun while there

murphy becoming more and more fatalistic as he accelerates through his 70’s

xviii-08

an appreciation of the buddhist priest zhao mei

as sailors rode the high waves a great whale rose from the depths
the ship and all its people disappeared down the throat of the behemoth
among all the people on the ship only one would survive
this man zhao mei has since found the moon lit pearl of the buddha’s teaching

his piety surpasses all, his luster reflects on the myriad streams and lakes
he serenely accepts the great pearl secreted within his gold embroidered shirt
who else knows of this gem of perfection; i, the madman, laugh quietly to myself
our hearts understand that we both apprentice to the golden buddha

murphy once again successfully resisting his religious impulse

xviii-09

taking leave of li qing as he returns to hua yang chuan

you are the descendant of the family li and kin to the immortal lao zi
your youthful countenance is as fresh as spring’s new green
you travel to a cave on the daoist mountain where time itself is changed
in the clouds and mists of hua yang chuan you will find solitude

there your heart and your head will be nourished and prosper
meditation will lead you to knowledge of your divine nature
but please do not stay there as an immortal for a thousand years
if you should then return to chang an both people and city will have changed

murphy wishing his friends success in endeavors he himself would prefer

xviii-10

i take leave of my younger brother

in our family we share a propitious streak of white hair in our forelocks
we now share the beginnings of your travel to the far distant east
when i wish for your company in the future i will be sure to write
offer a verse like “spring sprouts on the lake” as did xie ling yan for his brother

murphy riding a bus day and night to get back to texas to see his brother

li bai xviii-11

i say goodbye to a parting friend

the water is clear in the far southern regions
this ship will take you there when the wind rises
as an exile you will enjoy what you see
and the other at large eremites will seek you out

when the sun sets you will watch birds come home to roost
in the transparent ponds you will feel at one with the carefree fish
and if the illustrious ruler you serve recognizes a second jia yi
you will receive a pardon sealed in purple lacquer and be yourself free again

murphy always saying ciao and never good bye

li bai xviii-12

i take leave of underdistrict judge ju, 10th of his clan

let us enjoy the bounty of this clear autumn day
and write appropriate verse to gui ji mountain
the green clouds of sunset borrow color from the sea
the waters of the river form eddies in the center of its bend

i own a precious sword which i can as little lose as could yan ji ling zi
and you do not possess the riches of lu jia to make your life easier
in these difficult times we separate from each other here
how difficult it is for us to bear the pain of departure

murphy up to snuff when it comes to protocol

li bai xviii-13

i escort baccalaureate zhang at xiu zai as he leaves to visit governor gao shi

introduction: i was locked up in prison by jiu jiang and have just finished reading the biography of zhang liang. baccalaureate zhang meng xiong has formulated a plan to destroy the rebel an lu shan and wishes to leave guang ling to present his ideas to governor gao shi. i was pleased by these writings of zhang liang and am full of sympathy for zhang meng xiong. so i made a poem for this occasion and give it to him as he leaves.

emperor qin shi huang abandoned the honorable principles of government
then zhang liang appeared and came down from the clouds on high
the ancient huang shi gong was grateful for this work on the art of war
after he and cang hai jun made the attempt to assassinate qin shi huang

cang hai jun was a brave man who wielded a metal hammer
and from this act of revenge he conquered six kingdoms
the wisdom and courage of zhang liang has always been renowned
xiao he and chen ping do not reach the level of his accomplishments

when the two dragons liu bang and xiong yu fought for supremacy
everything in heaven and on earth was in the turmoil of a great storm
while drinking at the banquet huang zhuang danced with his long sword
at this critical moment zhang liang knew the danger from liu bang was averted

the middle kingdom was then in great disorder and the hong gou canal
became the boundary between the realms of liu bang and xiang yu
zhang liang’s masterful plan, like that of xiang yu, was truly extraordinary
he had come up with a remarkable example of strategical cunning

when an lu shan took possession of the imperial palace in chang an
the sun, moon, and the stars suffered a disastrous revolution
gao shi now serves as the warrior governor of huai hai
where he has suppressed the simultaneous rebellion of prince li lin yong

he has chosen you, zhang meng xiong, to plan for his campaign
you will overcome all obstacles and bring success to his efforts
i sit here now in prison as innocent as zou yan but powerless
i cannot command the powers of heaven to sort good from evil

i can therefore do nothing more than sit and shed my tears
which i will now ceaselessly do as i say farewell as you leave

murphy sitting on the bench while the game is fought on the field

li bai xviii-14

in jiu jiang i take leave of my younger brother who is a police officer in po yang

in sang lo the river islands lie close together
the blue stream rarely has fog rising from it
jiu jiang river is not like the one at shan xian
but therupon appears a ship carrying a second wang hui zhi

swaying in the water as it slowly approaches us
you arrive from the distance like an immortal
as we board the ship the moonlight glimmers on the waters
the shadow of your sail falls on the reflected image of po yang

now that we have met we can spend some time
and share mutual words of faith from day to day
you are truly for me a second xie huai lian
sadly i cannot call myself a second xie ling yun

with a red sash and silver seal you assume your new post
to join the staff of the district judge of po yang
where the spruce extend to the middle of the road as a gate
and the stone-mirror rock glints in the bright sunlight

you will wield your fan as you approach gan yue ting
until you reach the pavilion by the water where it is cool
i promise you that you will reach this pavilion
on the 15th day of the 8th month when the moon is full

when this day is over i shall probably not see you for a while
and our two hearts will share the disappointment
the mountains of wu lie beyond the great river by jiu jiang
and in between lies po yang and the lake peng li

it is my desire to visit you there when i can
perhaps to mark the sorrow of an entire year having passed us by

murphy mourning the idea of loss more than the loss itself

li bai xviii-15

i take leave of my uncle li yun, proof reader of the cabinet offices

in my youth i wasted my good days strutting around
singing and laughing in the rosy bloom of youth
i didn’t notice as i imperceptibly became old
always greeting the spring winds as they returned

although parting is hard we now take joy in each other
we walk to and fro under the blooming peaches and plums
let us enjoy the blossoms and drink this glorious wine
listening to bird song and viewing the sun lit mountains

then this evening i will go into my bamboo grove all alone
with no friend around, with nothing to do but close my gate

murphy understanding we are all ultimately alone, each within our selves

li bai xviii-16

i take leave of the honored student wang as he leaves to visit his parents

the waters of po yang lake extend with the blue of heaven
su zhou, your destination, lies far away to the east
you wish to return to the home of your parents
we wait for the dawn rising from the sea before launching your boat

the stream ahead meanders a brilliance for you to travel
between the distant mountains linked in their chains
i will think of your longing as day turns back into night
and my thoughts will wander with you to the east on the sparkling river

murphy always restless in his imagination

li bai xviii-17

together with the duke of wu i take leave of du xiu cai as he leaves for the ju ren prefecture in chang an

young scholar, as educated as you are
the duke of wu appreciates most your efficiency
for a short time you and he will be separated
as you wander under the sky of the capital

today the autumn mountain at sunset is not at its best
but the charming river stands out below the cold fog
you go now to chang an to pick among the cassia branches
to bring them back here for the wild geese on the pond

murphy watching his students graduate and go on their way

li bai xviii-18

drunk on the shores of dong ting lake i take leave of lu gao, governor of jiang zhou, who is exiled to li zhou

our earlier separation seems far away as if in a dream
now unexpectedly we meet again far from the capital
the reflection of the autumn moon is shattered by the waves
we drink wine for our hearts to dispel the grief on our faces

i give to you one of my two swords engraved with beautiful characters
for they are like the two dragons at the yan ping ford who always come back together
in this farewell i cannot begin to tell you all of my thoughts
i will send them to you beyond the yan hui peak where you now go

murphy torn by the casual cruelty dished up gratuitously by fate

li bai xviii-19

with several friends i escort major chen as he returns to heng yang

introduction: confucius in his distress received the 56th hexagram, “wanderer”, and wen wang in a similar situation received the 36th. “repressed mind”. When one’s time has not yet come then one needs to submit to wise and proficient actions. how much more this is true for a bumbling man like me, whose exile and misery are certainly not entirely undeserved. in the morning my heart was full of sorrow and by the evening my hair has turned quite white. i must needs climb up a mountain to follow the departing guest with my eye focused on the distance. this is still more the continuing sorrow of man.

the loyal spirit of major chen is generally honored by beautiful, exquisite thoughts, and he has come to cao cheng where he has been cordially received, and now his splendid talents are calling for his departure for further good works. in our purity of inspiration we are gathered here to write our farewell poems in the middle of the stream. he sits on the ship rocking in the white waves quite ready to leave us. my esteemed companions were unable to convince him to remain so we have all written poems in honor of his departure. i wrote this introduction though i am ashamed to be their author and to be placed at the head of this august company. perhaps the other writers wish merely to make my performance a target for their humor.

the gray prominence of heng shan protrudes into the purple sky
from its heights one can even see the star of the old man over the south pole
a whirlwind has scattered the snow on the peaks of the five mountains
and often the snow flies over to descend upon dong ting lake

the air here is delightfully clear under the wonderfully huge mountains
and it is here that members of major chen’s family have won their sashes of office
the guests in this house are as numerous as the passing clouds
and everyone compares it to the past glory of that of meng chang zhan

i have escorted him down here to the river as he now leaves
and i regret my inability to give him on this occasion a white gem
as he departs i become quite distressed in my fear
that i will not be able to endure the pain of this separation

murphy wearing his heart on his sleeve for all to see

li bai xviii-20

i take leave of secretary zhao who leaves for the camp of his uncle the governor of qian fu

my ambitious heart is disappointed in its past dealings
keeping up with my friends i’ve lost all my money
the rich and respected have forgotten me now
funnily enough this makes me laugh at myself

along with the failures in my life my temple hair has turned gray
and it is difficult to find a way to return to the good life
shan rao scolded shi jian: how can you still be alive
living under the hooves of horses midst the dangers of the world

but i will never grow weary of the green ivy on the mountains
and will return to visit the eastern mountains again
while you are a like a second zeng shen from lu
who shows proper piety in the veneration of your parents

your uncle shows his hospitality as did ping yuan jun of the zhao empire
and he has earned the special favor of our illustrious ruler
generally speaking the rigor of his behavior is praised
as he reigns as governor in the high frontier province

his gallant officers keep their shining lances at the ready
while beautiful women keep one’s cup filled with wine
highly talented you go to serve in his headquarters
you enter his bamboo grove with a proper sense of duty

your ship will overnight as the moon shines on the five rivers
while the monkeys of the gorges scream loudly in the cold
when the grass turns green again in the winds of spring
i will wait on the banks of the great river for your return

murphy keeping it all in the family as his rule for living

li bai xviii-21

i escort secretary lu as he leaves to visit the pi pu gorge

if the night autumn winds come to the land of lakes and streams
it is certainly not the time to separate and for you to travel afar
chang an is for me like the perfect land of dreams
where i await the eventual crackling hour of dawn

murphy snug in his bed, replete in his dreamscape

li bai xviii-22

i escort liang, 4th of his clan, as he leaves for dong ping

the jade jug is filled with wonderful wine
and i force myself to be happy for the departure
for one sees the southern fire star this month
and as long as it shines travel to the north is difficult

you now find yourself like tai gong a high official in shan dong
where you should find time to fish from the bank of the wen river
but do not imitate xie an who surrendered himself to inactivity
as he rested in zhe giang up in the eastern mountains

murphy always knowing what is best for others to do