From my lips in their defilement - John of Da­mas­cus

From  my lips in their defilement,
From my heart in its beguilement. 
From my tongue which speaks not fair, 
From my soul stained everywhere, 
O my Jesus, take my prayer!

A Night-mooring on the Jiande River - Meng Hao-jan

While my little boat moves on its mooring of mist,
And daylight wanes, old memories begin....
How wide the world was, how close the trees to heaven,
And how clear in the water the nearness of the moon!

Dwelling by a stream - Liu Zongyuan

I had so long been troubled by official hat and robe
That I am glad to be an exile here in this wild southland.
I am a neighbour now of planters and reapers.

In a Retreat among Bamboos - Wang Wei

Alone I am sitting under close bamboos,
Playing on my lute, singing without words.

Those eternal bowers - John of Da­mas­cus

Those eternal bowers 

Man hath never trod, 

Those unfading flowers 

Round the throne of God, —

Who may hope to gain them, 

After weary fight? 

Who at length attain them, 

Clad in robes of white? 

Brothers, my peace is in my aloneness - Rabi’a of Basri

Brothers, my peace is in my aloneness.

My Beloved is alone with me there, always.

His robe was white like milk - Abu Nuwas

His robe was white like milk,

His eyes love-heavy underneath blue lids.

His cheeks the shadow of wine-coloured silk 

Thrown upon snow.

Love at my door - Anonymous

Love at my door 

Knocked and I gave him bed. 

When sleep saw this 

He took offence and fled. 

‘Give me back sleep; 

Where has he gone?’ I said. 

To the Caliph Haroun al Rashid - Ibrahim ibn Adham

Religion's gems can ne'er adorn

The flimsy robe by pleasure worn;

Its feeble texture soon would tear,

And give those jewels to the air.

Night Thoughts While Traveling - Du Fu

A light breeze rustles the reeds

Along the river banks. The

Mast of my lonely boat soars

On his Friends - Meskin Aldaramy

With conscious pride I view the band 

Of faithful friends that round me stand, 

The Mutability of all Earthly Things - Ōtomo no Yakamochi

Since the far natal hour of earth and heaven, 

          Men never cease to cry 

That ne’er to aught in this our world ’twas given 

          To last eternally. 

Sinking like a rock in the sea - Feng-kan (Big Stick)

Sinking like a rock in the sea

drifting through the Three Worlds

Parting from the Eldest Youth of the Tung Family - Kao-Shih

Long leagues of tawny sky shut out the day:

On the North Wind wind geese are whirled:

And fast, fast drives of snow.

Karkhiyya - Abu Nuwas

Praise the wine for its munificence

And give it the best of names

A Night-mooring at Wuchang - Lu Lun

Far off in the clouds stand the walls of Hanyang,

Another day's journey for my lone sail...

Spring Outlook - Du Fu

Nations are smashed,
mountains and rivers remain.

Climbing Long-View Mountain’s Highest Peak - Meng Hao-jan

Rivers and mountains beyond the form seen:
Hsiang-yang’s beauty brings them in reach,

In two ways have I loved Thee - Rabi’a of Basri

In two ways have I loved Thee: selfishly,
And with a love that worthy is of Thee.

On Fatalism - Al-Shafi‘i

Not always wealth, nor always force,
A splendid destiny commands;
The lordly vulture gnaws the corpse
That rots upon the barren sands.