Sunday, July 05, 2020

司空圖二十四詩品《縝密》 / Sikong Tu's Twenty-Four Classes of Poetry, 14 - "Tight-knit"


I meant to post this last week, but never got around to it. Not a whole lot to talk about here, so I'll let the poem speak for itself. I'm pretty pleased with how my translation turned out.

Wear your mask, stay home as much as you can, and be safe, y'all.

微臣
史大偉

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縝密
司空圖 

是有真跡
如不可知
意象欲出
造化已奇
水流花開
清露未晞
要路愈遠
幽行為遲
語不欲犯
思不欲癡
猶春於綠
明月雪時

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"Tight-knit"
Sikong Tu

That bears the mark of the real
which resembles the unknowable—
concepts seeking to emerge
already made mundane by the force of change.

Flowing water, blooming flowers
bright dew not yet evaporated
the only road stretches ever on—
a lonely path, slow going.

Strive to speak without offense
strive to think without foolishness—
be as spring is green,
as moonlight on falling snow.

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