The following is an old book jot from December 2021:

I just finished reading Su Tung-p’o: Selections From a Sung Dynasty Poet, translated and with an introduction and notes by Burton Watson (1965). This book is a selection of poems by Su Shi, also known by his literary name of Su Tung-p’o, and contains poems written between 1059 and 1101.

I very much enjoyed these poems. Most were descriptive scenes from Su Shi’s personal experiences, often infused with philosophical reflection. Due to the particulars of his life, he was often in transition from one place to another and many of his poems deal with journeys, travel through the natural world, and exile.

These are wonderfully crafted poems, written in clear and natural language, and are a joy to read.

One cloud, a slanting sun—I gaze southwest
And envy crows that know the way back home.