poetry of the Tang Dynasty Three hundred head > dream Li bai 2 gospel
SEEING Li Bai IN A DREAM I

Poet: Du Fu
梦李白二首之一
梦李白二首之一
  There are sobs when death is the cause of parting;
  But life has its partings again and again.
  ...From the poisonous damps of the southern river
  You had sent me not one sign from your exile --
  Till you came to me last night in a dream,
  Because I am always thinking of you.
  I wondered if it were really you,
  Venturing so long a journey.
  You came to me through the green of a forest,
  You disappeared by a shadowy fortress....
  Yet out of the midmost mesh of your snare,
  How could you lift your wings and use them?
  ...I woke, and the low moon's glimmer on a rafter
  Seemed to be your face, still floating in the air.
  ...There were waters to cross, they were wild and tossing;
  If you fell, there were dragons and rivermonsters.