Day 28 - Long Yearning - by Li Bai

I thought I would try a Chinese Poet today. I'm learning Chinese Characters, and have been practicing by trying to recognize these characters in writings on the internet.

Li Bai is a very famous poet. He lived in the 'Golden Age of China' from 701 AD - 762 AD. He was known as one of the Three Wonders (the other two being Pei Min's swordplay and Zhang Xu's calligraphy). Li Bai wrote a thousand poems during the Tang Dynasty, mostly about his friendships, the places he visited, and wine. He began writing poetry before he was ten, which is oddly pleasing to me since that is the age I began writing my own poetry.

It is rumoured that Li Bai died falling out of a boat, maybe after filling his wine cup.  He was so enamored by the reflection of the moon in the Yangtse River than he tried to embrace it.

感之欲嘆息,   Moved by its song I soon began to sigh,
對酒還自傾.   and, as wine was there, I filled my own cup.
浩歌待明月,   Wildly singing I waited for the moon to rise;
曲盡已忘情.   when my song was over, all my senses had gone.

Here are the original Chinese characters of this poem (I think it is anyway). I would love to transcribe this myself, since there are many different translations and interpretations.  In Chinese, the essence of the poem would be retained.  I recognize 'moon' and 'person' and 'sky or heaven'.

长相思，在长安。

络纬秋啼金井阑，
微霜凄凄簟色寒。

孤灯不明思欲绝，
卷帷望月空长叹。

美人如花隔云端，
上有青冥之高天，
下有渌水之波澜。

天长地远魂飞苦，
梦魂不到关山难。
长相思，摧心肝。

Here is my spoken version of this poem:
https://soundcloud.com/raindrop-11/long-yearning

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Long Yearning - by Li Bai

Long yearning,
To be in Chang'an.
The grasshoppers weave their autumn song by the golden railing of the well;
Frost coalesces on my bamboo mat, changing its colour with cold.
My lonely lamp is not bright, I’d like to end these thoughts;
I roll back the hanging, gaze at the moon, and long sigh in vain.
The beautiful person's like a flower beyond the edge of the clouds.
Above is the black night of heaven's height;
Below is the green water billowing on.
The sky is long, the road is far, bitter flies my spirit;
The spirit I dream can't get through, the mountain pass is hard.
Long yearning,
Breaks my heart.

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