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Lu Yu: Traveling Through the Qutang Gorge

Traveling Through the Qutang Gorge

瞿 唐 行
四 月 欲 尽 五 月 来
峡 中 水 涨 何 雄 哉!
浪 花 高 飞 署 路 雪
滩 石 怒 转 晴 天 雷。
千 艘 万 舸 不 敢 过
篙 工 舵 师 心 胆 破。
人 人 阴 拱 待 势 衰
谁 敢 轻 行 犯 奇 祸?
一 朝 时 去 不 自 由
山 腹 空 有 沙 痕 留。
君 不 见 陆 子 岁 暮 来 夔 州
瞿 唐 峡 水 平 如 油!
Qu Tang Xing

Si yue yu jin wu yue lai
Xia zhong shui zhang he xiong zai.
Lang hua gao fei shu lu xue
Tan shi nu zhuan qing tian lei.

Qian sou wan ge bu gan guo
Gao gong duo shi xin dan po.
Ren ren yin gong dai shi shuai
Shei gan qing xing fan qi huo?

Yi zhao shi qu bu zi you
Shan fu kong you sha hen liu.
Jun bu jian lu zi sui mu lai kui zhou
Qu tang xia shui ping ru you.

 

Traveling Through the Qutang Gorge

Four or five months before arriving at my destination
How powerful the water is rising in the gorge!
Hot weather, snowmelt water backwashes and sprays
Rocky shoals, vigorous sky changes from thunder to a clear blue.

Thousands of boats and barges not brave enough
Punt-pole workers and rudder masters, their hearts-minds with broken courage.
Everyone inside shadows, anxious of the water’s power
Who can travel now to violate and tempt misfortune?

This morning there is time to go out, do not freeze from fear
When the water recedes, nothing here but sandy bottoms remain of the river intestines.
Can’t you see me now with the year coming to an end
Will arrive at Kuizhou, Qutang Gorge river water as level as can be!

 

Notes:

Qutang Gorge:  The shortest of the Three Gorges on the Changjiang.

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