roma★
wallacepolsom
Stranger Things
blake kathryn
Not today Justin
izzy's playlists!
titsay
Sweet Seals For You, Always
Product Placement
styofa doing anything
PR's Tumblrdome
trying on a metaphor
@theartofmadeline
art blog(derogatory)
Mike Driver
tannertan36
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
AnasAbdin
Andulka
ellievsbear
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from Norway
seen from Poland
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Netherlands
seen from Canada
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from France
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from United States
@silkscroll
八阵图 (Eight Formations)
功蓋三分國，名成八陣圖。 江流石不轉，遺恨失吞吳。
His feats were known in all three states, Conceived the eight formations too. But rivers flow and stones turn not, A shame he failed to conquer Wu.
Du Fu (Tang, d. 770)
Art: Zhuge Liang (Kong Ming) in "Ruse with an Empty City," State Hermitage Museum (Qing)
渡汉江 (Crossing the Han River)
嶺外音書斷，經冬復曆春。 近鄉情更怯，不敢問來人。
Beyond the range, where news can’t reach, I went through winter, and back came spring. I neared my town, but grew more shy And dared not ask the passer-bys.
Song Zhiwen (Tang, d. 712)
Art: 五代南唐 董源 潇湘图 "Xiao and Xiang Rivers," Dong Yuan (Five Dynasties, Southern Tang)
兔罝 (Rabbit Nets)
肅肅兔罝、椓之丁丁。赳赳武夫、公侯干城。 肅肅兔罝、施于中逵。赳赳武夫、公侯好仇。 肅肅兔罝、施于中林。赳赳武夫、公侯腹心。
Fine are the rabbit nets, Set down with a zheng, zheng. A valiant and fearless warrior Is a prince’s shield and his walls. Fine are the rabbit nets, Placed in the middle of the crossing. A valiant and fearless warrior Is a prince’s favored companion. Fine are the rabbit nets, Placed in the middle of the forest. A valiant and fearless warrior Is a prince’s belly and his heart.
"Tu Ju," Book of Songs
Art: 北宋 趙伯馬肅 騎獵歸圖图 "Return of the Mounted Hunters," Zhaobo Masu (Northern Song)
桃夭 (Tender Peach)
桃之夭夭、灼灼其華。之子于歸、宜其室家。 桃之夭夭、有蕡其實。之子于歸、宜其家室。 桃之夭夭、其葉蓁蓁。之子于歸、宜其家人。
The peach is tender and comely; Brilliant are its flowers. This girl is going to be married: May the family of her chamber be harmonious.
The peach is tender and comely; There is abundance in its fruits. This girl is going to be married: May the chambers of her house be harmonious.
The peach is tender and comely; Its leaves are rich and lush. This girl is going to be married: May the people of her family be harmonious.
"Tao Yao," Book of Songs
Art: 清 方薰 桃花图轴 "Peach Blossoms," Fang Xun (Qing)
The Crowding Companions
Arabic original
And they crowded me, as I touched [the Ka’ba], those companion women They came to the circumambulation, those women who rode behind me. They uncovered the lights of [their faces like] suns and said to me: “Beware! For the death of the soul is in glances. How many have we killed in al-Muhassib from Mina, Noble souls, near the pebbles; And in the pastures of the valley and the mountains of Rama And Jam’, and at the departure from Arafat. Do you not know that beauty robs one who has Chastity, that it is called the robber of good deeds?” Our appointed time is after the circumambulation in Zamzam At the middle dome, at the stones. There one who had been thinned by love is healed With what he desired from fragrant women. If they feared, they would lower their hair, and they, from Their tresses, would be in the cover of darkness.
From Ibn Arabi (d. 1240), The Translator of Desires (Tarjuman al-Ashwaq)
Art: Qur'an Manuscript Folio from Herat (Safavid)
螽斯 (Katydids)
螽斯羽，诜诜兮。宜尔子孙，振振兮。 螽斯羽，薨薨兮。宜尔子孙，绳绳兮。 螽斯羽，揖揖兮。宜尔子孙，蛰蛰兮。
Wings of the katydids, How numerous they are. Right is it for one's descendants To flock together. Wings of the katydids, How they buzz about. Right is it for one's descendants To swarm together. Wings of the katydids, How they assemble as one. Right is it for one's descendants To gather together.
"Zhong Si," Book of Songs
Art: 元 陳琳 花卉 "Flowers and Plants," Chen Lin (Yuan)
樛木 (Bended Tree)
南有樛木，葛藟累之。 乐只君子，福履绥之。 南有樛木，葛藟荒之。 乐只君子，福履将之。 南有樛木，葛藟萦之。 乐只君子，福履成之。
In the south is a bended tree, Vines cling to it. The delightful lord, Blessing and fortune comfort him.
In the south is a bended tree, Vines spread over it. The delightful lord, Blessing and fortune support him.
In the south is a bended tree, Vines surround it. My delightful lord, Blesssing and fortune fulfill him.
"Jiu Mu," Book of Songs
Art: 北宋 趙佶 柳鴉蘆雁圖卷 "Crows on Willows and Wild Geese in Reeds," Emperor Huizong (Northern Song)
No Consolation and No Patience
Arabic original
Consolation departed, and patience departed, when they departed; They departed — they were dwellers in the core of the heart. I asked about the caravan’s resting place; It was said to us, “Their resting place is where the shīḥ and the ban are fragrant.” So I said to the wind, “Go, and reach them, For they are staying near the shade of the grove. And deliver to them a salām, from a brother of sorrow; In his heart, from separation from his people, are sorrows."
From Ibn Arabi (d. 1240), The Translator of Desires (Tarjuman al-Ashwaq)
Art: "Study of Exotic Fowl in a Bush," Sultan Muhammad (Safavid)
聽箏 (Listening to the Zither)
鳴箏金粟柱，素手玉房前。 欲得周郎顧，時時誤拂弦。
A zither of osmanthus sings; White hands before the house of jade. She seeks a glance from Master Zhou: A few wrong notes are often played.
Li Duan 李端 (737-784, Tang dynasty)
Art: 清 吳嘉猷 仕女圖冊 "Book of Court Women," Wu Jiayou (Qing)
卷耳 (Wildflowers)
采采卷耳，不盈頃筐。嗟我懷人，寘彼周行。 陟彼崔嵬，我馬虺隤。我姑酌彼金罍，維以不永懷。 陟彼高岡，我馬玄黃。我姑酌彼兕觥，維以不永傷。 陟彼砠矣，我馬瘏矣，我僕痡矣，云何吁矣。
Gathering the wildflowers, I filled my basket not; I sighed for my beloved, And placed my basket by the road. I ascended the rocky mount: But my horse is sickly and weak. I poured wine from my jar, That I might not yearn constantly. I ascended the high cliff: But my horse is pale and jaundiced. I poured wine from my horn, That I might not grieve endlessly. I ascended the height: My horse exhausted, My servant afflicted, What can I do but sigh?
Book of Songs, Airs of the States: Southern Zhou (8th to 7th century BCE)
Art: 冯超然 献花图 “Flower Offering,” Ma Chaoran (1882-1954)
葛覃 (Spreading Vines)
葛之覃兮，施于中谷，維葉萋萋，黃鳥于飛，集于灌木，其鳴喈喈。 葛之覃兮，施于中谷，維葉莫莫，是刈是濩，為絺為綌，服之無斁。 言告師氏，言告言歸，薄污我私，薄 澣我衣，害澣害否，歸寧父母。
Oh how the vines spread, Reaching the middle of the valley, Its leaves are lush. Yellow birds are flying, They perch among the shrubs, And sing their songs. Oh how the vines spread, Reaching the middle of the valley, Its leaves are dense. I picked them and boiled them, For fabrics fine and coarse, Which I will wear without tire. I will tell my teacher, Tell her that I am going home, I will wash away the dirt from my undergarments, And I will rinse my clothes. Which to wash, and which to not? I am going home to see my parents.
“Ge Tan,” Book of Songs (c. 900-800 BCE) Art: 唐 張萱 搗練圖卷 “Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk,” Zhang Xuan (Tang)
關雎 (Singing riverbirds)
關關雎鳩，在河之洲。窈窕淑女，君子好逑。 參差荇菜，左右流之。窈窕淑女，寤寐求之。 求之不得，寤寐思服。悠哉悠哉，輾轉反側。 參差荇菜，左右采之。窈窕淑女，琴瑟友之。 參差荇菜，左右芼之。窈窕淑女，鐘鼓樂之。
“Guan-guan” the riverbirds sing, on the isle of the river The elegant and graceful maiden: a good match for the lord. The scattered duckweed: left and right I scoop them up. The elegant and graceful maiden: day and night I seek her. I sought her but did not find her, day and night I thought and mourned. Longingly, longingly, I tossed and turned from side to side. The scattered duckweed: left and right I pick them. The elegant and graceful maiden: with lute and harp I befriend her. The scattered duckweed: left and right I collect them. The elegant and graceful maiden: with bell and drum I delight in her.
“Guanju,” Book of Songs (c. 900-800 BCE)
Art: 清 嘉慶 刺繡海棠雙禽圖軸 “Embroidered Begonia with a Pair of Birds,” Jiaqing Emperor (Qing)
登樂遊原 (Atop Leyou Plain)
向晚意不適，驅車登古原。 夕陽無限好，只是近黃昏。
As evening came, I felt unwell; And drove up to the old plateau. The setting sun: a boundless good, Except that dusk approaches so.
Li Shangyin 李商隱 (813-858, Tang)
Art: 明 丁雲鵬 武夷九曲圖卷 "Scene of Mount Wuyi alongside the Jiuqu Creek," by Ding Yunpeng (Ming)
Afflicted Sighs
Arabic original
Yearning rose up, and consolation went down; So I was between a high place [Najd] and a low one [Tihama]. They are contraries that will never come together; So my fragmentation will never be resolved. What am I to do? What am I to devise? O, my rebuker, do not distress me with reproach! Sighs have ascended upward, And tears flow upon my cheeks. The camels long for their homelands From the hardship of the journey, like the longing of lovers. Naught is my life after them but annihilation; So upon her and upon patience—peace.
From Ibn Arabi (d. 1240), The Translator of Desires (Tarjuman al-Ashwaq)
Art: Najdi-styled Quran, Muhammad bin Omar al-Fakhiri (c. 1827)
怨情 (Resentment)
美人卷珠簾，深坐顰蛾眉。 但見淚痕濕，不知心恨誰。
A beauty rolls her beaded screen, Her fine brows furled as she sits away; One sees her tearful stains still wet, Not knowing who her heart disdains.
Li Bai 李白 (701-762, Tang)
Art: 傅抱石 湘夫人图轴 "Woman of Xiang" Fu Baoshi (1944)
Salam to Salma
Arabic original
Peace be upon Salma and those who dwell in the preserve, It is right for one like me, a feeble one, to give peace. And what requires her to return a greeting To us? But there is no subjection upon a [one as fair as a] statue! They journeyed, and the darkness of the night let down its veils; And I said to her: “One in love, estranged, captivated— Longings surround him like a voice, And shooters of arrows ambush him, wherever he heads.” She showed her teeth [in a smile], and lightning flashed: I knew not which of the twain cut through the darkness. And she said: “Is it not enough for him that I am in his heart, That he beholds me in every moment? Is it not, is it not?”
From Ibn Arabi (d. 1240), The Translator of Desires (Tarjuman al-Ashwaq)
Art: Curtain Panel, Spain (Nasrid, late 14th century)
静夜思 (Thoughts on a Quiet Night)
床前明月光，疑是地上霜。 舉頭望明月，低頭思故鄉。
The moon shines bright before my bed; I think it frost upon the ground instead. Looking up, I gaze upon the moon; Then long for home with downcast head.
Li Bai 李白 (701-762, Tang dynasty)
Jin Nong 金农, "Painting of Moonlight" (Qing)