Chinese Calligraphy (2): Mooring at Night by Maple Bridge

Mooring at Night by Maple Bridge

(A version of the poem by Zhang Ji translated, with the help of a Chinese journalist, from a Chinese calligraphy roll bought in Beijing)

The moon is setting; the cawing of crows.

Cold air; frost's coming.

A fisherman's lamp hangs on the boat.

Frosted late Autumn leaves above him,

A stranger fell asleep: sad thoughts.

From Hanshan Temple outside Gusun City

Comes the continuous sound of a bell at midnight,

Reaching the stranger's boat; pitch blackness.