Jia Dao: Two 5-Character Quatrains 賈島: 五言絕句兩首

Today, I am re-posting my rendition of two 5-character quatrains by Jia Dao.  I hope you will love them as much as I do:-


A:  Jia Dao (779 – 843): The Swordsman

For ten long years, a sword I whetted,  
Its frosty blade, as yet, untried.

Today I hold it, unsheathed, before you;

Of you, to whom was justice denied?

Translated by Andrew W.F. Wong (Huang Hongfa)   譯者: 黃宏發

4^th May 2015 (revised 7.5.15; 18.5.15; 22.5.15)

Translated from the original - 賈島:  劍客

十年磨一劍

霜刃未曾試

今日把示君

誰有不平事

http://chinesepoemsinenglish.blogspot.com/2015/06/jis-dao-swordsman.html

B:  Jia Dao (779—843): Visiting the Absent Hermit

Beneath the pine-trees, I ask of a lad I see.
Away is the master gathering herbs, says he,
Up in this mountain, but where? I cannot tell, 
For there the clouds are deep and dense as be. 

Translated by Andrew W.F. Wong (Huang Hongfa)       譯者: 黃宏發
17 March 2008 (revised 19.3.08; 7.7.08; 17.7.08; 19.7.08; 21.11.08; 25.11.08; 26.11.08)
Translated from the original - 賈島: 尋隱者不遇

松下問童子
言師採藥去
只在此山中
雲深不知處

http://chinesepoemsinenglish.blogspot.com/2010/03/jia-dao-visiting-absent-hermit.html