BOOKMARK
To bookmark this poem:
Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or ⌘ + D (Mac).
Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or ⌘ + D (Mac).
Song of the Ancient Cypress
English Poetic Translation
Before the shrine of Kongming stands an ancient tree,
with limbs of dark bronze and roots of solid stone.
Its frosty bark streams rain across forty spans of girth,
its emerald crown pierces the heavens two thousand feet.
Monarch and minister met long ago in timely grace,
yet even this timber is cherished by men today.
Clouds gather, its breath linking the long Wuxia gorges;
the moon rises, its chill touching Snow Mountain's white.
I recall yesterday when my path wound east of Brocade Pavilion,
where the First Lord and Martial Marquis share a hidden shrine.
Its towering branches make the suburban plain look ancient;
through quiet, painted doorways, the empty chambers gleam.
Lofty and coiling, though rooted in honored soil,
its solitary height is lashed by fierce and bitter gales.
Divine spirits themselves reach out to prop its boughs;
such upright strength is truly the work of boundless creation.
Should a great mansion tilt, it calls for towering beams;
ten thousand oxen would turn back, dreading the mountain weight.
Its natural grain startles the world unpolished,
yet it shrinks not from the axe—who could escort its doom?
Can its bitter heart escape the nesting of wood-boring ants?
Yet its fragrant leaves lodge phoenixes and mystical birds at last.
Let noble scholars and secluded men lament no more:
since ancient times, the greatest talents are hard to use.
with limbs of dark bronze and roots of solid stone.
Its frosty bark streams rain across forty spans of girth,
its emerald crown pierces the heavens two thousand feet.
Monarch and minister met long ago in timely grace,
yet even this timber is cherished by men today.
Clouds gather, its breath linking the long Wuxia gorges;
the moon rises, its chill touching Snow Mountain's white.
I recall yesterday when my path wound east of Brocade Pavilion,
where the First Lord and Martial Marquis share a hidden shrine.
Its towering branches make the suburban plain look ancient;
through quiet, painted doorways, the empty chambers gleam.
Lofty and coiling, though rooted in honored soil,
its solitary height is lashed by fierce and bitter gales.
Divine spirits themselves reach out to prop its boughs;
such upright strength is truly the work of boundless creation.
Should a great mansion tilt, it calls for towering beams;
ten thousand oxen would turn back, dreading the mountain weight.
Its natural grain startles the world unpolished,
yet it shrinks not from the axe—who could escort its doom?
Can its bitter heart escape the nesting of wood-boring ants?
Yet its fragrant leaves lodge phoenixes and mystical birds at last.
Let noble scholars and secluded men lament no more:
since ancient times, the greatest talents are hard to use.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
孔明廟前有老柏，柯如青銅根如石。
霜皮溜雨四十圍，黛色參天二千尺。
君臣已與時際會，樹木猶爲人愛惜。
雲來氣接巫峽長，月出寒通雪山白。
憶昨路繞錦亭東，先主武侯同閟宮。
崔嵬枝幹郊原古，窈窕丹青戶牖空。
落落盤踞雖得地，冥冥孤高多烈風。
扶持自是神明力，正直原因造化功。
大廈如傾要梁棟，萬牛回首丘山重。
不露文章世已驚，未辭剪伐誰能送。
苦心豈免容螻蟻，香葉終經宿鸞鳳。
志士幽人莫怨嗟，古來材大難爲用。
霜皮溜雨四十圍，黛色參天二千尺。
君臣已與時際會，樹木猶爲人愛惜。
雲來氣接巫峽長，月出寒通雪山白。
憶昨路繞錦亭東，先主武侯同閟宮。
崔嵬枝幹郊原古，窈窕丹青戶牖空。
落落盤踞雖得地，冥冥孤高多烈風。
扶持自是神明力，正直原因造化功。
大廈如傾要梁棟，萬牛回首丘山重。
不露文章世已驚，未辭剪伐誰能送。
苦心豈免容螻蟻，香葉終經宿鸞鳳。
志士幽人莫怨嗟，古來材大難爲用。
Philological Direct Translation
Before Kongming's temple there is an old cypress, boughs like bronze roots like stone.
Frost-bitten bark streaming rain forty spans round, dark green touching heaven two thousand feet.
Monarch and minister already with the times met and joined, trees still are by people cherished and loved.
Clouds come breath connects Wuxia's length, moon rises cold penetrates Snow Mountain's white.
Recalling yesterday path winding brocade pavilion east, First Lord and Martial Marquis sharing closed palace.
Towering branches and trunk suburban plain ancient, deep and quiet cinnabar paint doors and windows empty.
Lofty and coiled though obtaining earth, dark and solitary high many fierce winds.
Supporting itself is naturally divine spirit's power, uprightness causes creation's work.
Great mansion if tilting needs ridge-beams, ten thousand oxen turning heads hill-mountain heavy.
Unrevealed patterns world already startles, not declining lopping-down who can send.
Bitter heart how can avoid housing mole-crickets, fragrant leaves finally through lodge luan-birds and phoenixes.
Determined scholars and secluded hermits do not resent and sigh, since ancient times great talent is hard to be used.
Frost-bitten bark streaming rain forty spans round, dark green touching heaven two thousand feet.
Monarch and minister already with the times met and joined, trees still are by people cherished and loved.
Clouds come breath connects Wuxia's length, moon rises cold penetrates Snow Mountain's white.
Recalling yesterday path winding brocade pavilion east, First Lord and Martial Marquis sharing closed palace.
Towering branches and trunk suburban plain ancient, deep and quiet cinnabar paint doors and windows empty.
Lofty and coiled though obtaining earth, dark and solitary high many fierce winds.
Supporting itself is naturally divine spirit's power, uprightness causes creation's work.
Great mansion if tilting needs ridge-beams, ten thousand oxen turning heads hill-mountain heavy.
Unrevealed patterns world already startles, not declining lopping-down who can send.
Bitter heart how can avoid housing mole-crickets, fragrant leaves finally through lodge luan-birds and phoenixes.
Determined scholars and secluded hermits do not resent and sigh, since ancient times great talent is hard to be used.