Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE EXCURSION, by TU FU


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE EXCURSION, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: How delightful, at sunset, to loosen the boat!
Last Line: By the time we reach the shore, it seems as though the fifth month were autumn.
Alternate Author Name(s): Du Fu
Subject(s): Boats; Poetry & Poets; Sea Voyages


I

HOW delightful, at sunset, to loosen the boat!
A light wind is slow to raise waves.
Deep in the bamboo grove, the guests linger;
The lotus-flowers are pure and bright in the cool evening air.
The young nobles stir the ice-water;
The Beautiful Ones wash the lotus-roots, whose fibers are like silk threads.
A layer of clouds above our heads is black.
It will certainly rain, which impels me to write this poem.

II

The rain comes, soaking the mats upon which we are sitting.
A hurrying wind strikes the bow of the boat.
The rose-red rouge of the ladies from Yueh is wet;
The Yen beauties are anxious about their kingfisher-eyebrows.
We throw out a rope and draw in to the sloping bank.
We tie the boat to the willow-trees.
We roll up the curtains and watch the floating wave-flowers.
Our return is different from out setting out. The wind whistles and blows in
great gusts.
By the time we reach the shore, it seems as though the Fifth Month were Autumn.





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