History & Politics
On Climbing in Nan-king to the Terrace of Phoenixes
Translated by Witter Bynner and Kiang Kang-hu (1929) · From The Jade Mountain (1929)
Phoenixes that played here once, so that the place was named for them,
Have abandoned it now to this desolate river;
The paths of Wu Palace are crooked with weeds;
The garments of Chin are ancient dust.
. . . Like this green horizon halving the Three Peaks,
Like this Island of White Egrets dividing the river,
A cloud has arisen between the Light of Heaven and me,
To hide his city from my melancholy heart.
Cite this poem
MLA
Po, Li. “On Climbing in Nan-king to the Terrace of Phoenixes.” Translated by Witter Bynner and Kiang Kang-hu. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/li-po/154/.
Chicago
Po, Li. “On Climbing in Nan-king to the Terrace of Phoenixes.” Translated by Witter Bynner and Kiang Kang-hu. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/li-po/154/.
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