The Eleventh Moon (by Li He)

The palace walls

Encircled and shivering

Sealed tight even in the bright

Daylight that splinters into shards

Filling the air with an exquisite chill

The chimes ring on high

Drink deep all the wine

You like for a thousand days

But still the sky remains

Frozen and congealed

A noble lord can do

No better in this lifetime

The moat and the stream

Are in the firm grip of whiteness

The internal heat of the well

Has absconded and the water’s warmth

Has fled somewhere else

十一月

李贺

宫城团回凛严光

白天碎碎堕琼芳

挝钟高饮千日酒

却天凝寒作君寿

御沟泉合如环素

火井温泉在何处

Words in the Heart Residing - a song for the New Year by Jiao Ran

Here's a short poem I translated this morning -- a short prayer I stumbled upon to begin the new year.  It was written by the Chan monk Jiao Ran in the second half of the 8th century but I think it serves nicely as a mantra for 2018.  The title is not easy to translate -- 寓言. In contemporary idiom this would typically be understood to mean A Fable, but, after reading the four short lines that follow, I don't think this properly reflects Jiao Ran's intent.  The title as have translated it is based on the literal and spiritual significance rather than idiomatic truth. 
  

Words in the Heart Residing

My path originates

In what is not me

Never thinking ill

Of humankind

Today going forth

Into the city

Wide awake to

The heart of truth  

寓言

皎然

吾道本无我

未曾嫌世人

如今到城市

弥觉此心真

Image by Kiyoshi Yamashita