On First Seeing Huaishan (translation)
Jim Maybury

                                                     I have traveled

                                                                  day and night

                                                                  toward the Great River

                                                                  and the Sea,

                                                      Past maple leaves

                                                                  and reed catkins

                                                                  in the long autumn.

                                                      Suddenly,

                                                                  Huaihe

                                                                  is lost

                                                                  in the sky.

                                                      My boat rises

                                                                  on the waves,

                                                                  green mountains

                                                                  seem to dip.

                                                      Near Shouzhou

                                                                  I saw

                                                                  the white

                                                                  stone

                                                                  pagoda,

                                                      The punt

                                                                  moving us

                                                                  more slowly

                                                                  toward the

                                                                  yellow

                                                                  grass

                                                                  wilderness.

                                                      Now the waves

                                                                  are calm,

                                                                  the breeze

                                                                  is soft,

                                                                  the pagoda

                                                                  gone;

                                                      At Yingkou

                                                                  my people

                                                                  stood,

                                                                  dim figures

                                                                  in the

                                                                  fog and

                                                                  mist.

                                                                                          --Su Dongpo