枯藤老树昏鸦 Over old trees wreathed with rotten vines fly evening crows; 小桥流水人家 Under a small bridge near a cottage a stream flows; 古道西风瘦马 On ancient road in the west wind a lean horse goes. 夕阳西下 Westward declines the sun; 断肠人在天涯 Far, far from home is the heartbroken one.
A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;
The mourner’s heart is breaking on his way.
Where can a winehouse be found to drown his sadness?
A cowherd points to Almond Flower Village in the distance.
About the Poet
Du Mu (杜牧803—852) was a leading Chinese poet of the late Tang Dynasty. His courtesy name was Muzhi (牧之), and sobriquet Fanchuan (樊川).
He was born in Chang’an (modern Xi’an) into a elite family whose fortunes were declining. He passed the jinshi (”Presented Scholar”) level of the imperial civil service examination in 827 at the age of 25, and went on to hold many official positions in various locales through the years. However, he never achieved a high rank, perhaps due to enemies made in a factional dispute in 835. He was appointed to the office of Secretariat Drafter shortly before his death.
