Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

About T'ao Ch'ien

Timeline (365 - 427)

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English version by
Wu-chi Liu

Original Language
Chinese

Autumn chrysanthemums have beautiful color,

Themes

Birds

East

Garden

Lotus

Rose

Recommended Books

	The Selected Poems of T'ao Ch'ien, Translated by David Hinton
	Sunflower Splendor: Three Thousand Years of Chinese Poetry, Edited by Wu-chi Liu / Edited by Irving Yucheng Lo

Autumn chrysanthemums have beautiful color,
With dew in my clothes I pluck their flowers.
I float this thing in wine to forget my sorrow,
To leave far behind my thoughts of the world.
Alone, I pour myself a goblet of wine;
When the cup is empty, the pot pours for itself.
As the sun sets, all activities cease;
Homing birds, they hurry to the woods singing.
Haughtily, I whistle below the eastern balcony --
I've found again the meaning of life.

-- from Sunflower Splendor: Three Thousand Years of Chinese Poetry, Edited by Wu-chi Liu / Edited by Irving Yucheng Lo

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Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

About T'ao Ch'ien

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World