On the Lake (1)
On the Lake (1)
Bai Juyi
池上
山僧对棋坐
局上竹阴清
映竹无人见
时闻下子声 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 荫 (yìn - shade or protect).
