TUNE: LEANING ON BALUSTRADE

ON MY WAY TO JINLING

Qiao Ji

(Yuan Dynasty)

I roam on a lean horse laden with verse I write;

Tired birds bewail over desolate villages in sight.

Overhead willow down in flight, 

Adds to my forehead hair white.

凭阑人•金陵道中

[元]乔吉

瘦马驮诗天一涯,倦鸟呼愁村数家。

扑头飞柳花,与人添鬓华。

About the poet 

Qiao Ji was a Yuan Dynasty poet (1279-1368) known for his euphemistic yet creative writing style. 

About the translator 

Xu Yuanchong (1921-2021) was born in Nanchang in East China's Jiangxi Province. He was a professor of literary translation at Peking University.

About the book 

300 Yuan Songs Translated by Xu Yuanchong, Published by China Intercontinental Press