History & Politics

Harmonizing a Poem by Palace-Attendant Kuo

by Wang Wei AD 699–759

Translated by Witter Bynner and Kiang Kang-hu (1929) · From The Jade Mountain (1929)

History & Politics

High beyond the thick wall a tower shines with sunset
Where peach and plum are blooming and the willow-cotton flies.
You have heard in your office the court-bell of twilight;
Birds find perches, officials head for home.
Your morning-jade will tinkle as you thread the golden palace;
You will bring the word of Heaven from the closing gates at night.
And I should serve there with you; but being full of years,
I have taken off official robes and am resting from my troubles.

MLA

Wei, Wang. “Harmonizing a Poem by Palace-Attendant Kuo.” Translated by Witter Bynner and Kiang Kang-hu. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wang-wei/28/.

Chicago

Wei, Wang. “Harmonizing a Poem by Palace-Attendant Kuo.” Translated by Witter Bynner and Kiang Kang-hu. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wang-wei/28/.

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