On the Lake (1)
On the Lake (1)
Bai Juyi
池上
山僧對棋坐
局上竹陰清
映竹無人見
時聞下子聲 chí shàng
shān sēng duì qí zuò
jú shàng zhú yīn qīng
yìng zhú wú rén jiàn
shí wén xià zǐ shēng Mountain monks facing chess sit
Board on bamboo dark quiet
Shine bamboo no person see
Sometimes hear down chess piece sound Two monks sit facing, playing chess on the mountain,
The bamboo shadow on the board is dark and clear.
Not a person sees the bamboo's shadow,
One sometimes hears the pieces being moved.
Note:an alternative reading in line 2 is 蔭 (yìn - shade or protect).
