Ancient Asian Love Poems

望 月 懷 遠                                                 張 九 齡   Zhang Jiu Ling, 張 九 齡 Tang poet (678-740)
( 678-740 )

海 上 生 明 月 ,        
天 涯  共 此 時。        
情 人 怨 遙 夜,        
竟 夕 起 相 思 。        
滅 蠋 憐 光 滿,        
披 衣 覺 露 滋 。        
不 堪 盈 手 贈 ,        
還 寢 夢 隹 期 。

Thoughts afar in moonlight                    Zhang Jiu Ling        

A bright moon rising over the sea,
Shores apart, watching the same
Is someone dear to me.
I loath this endless night;
And could not sleep but think of thee.
In this full moon light,        
Who cares for candlelight?
Stepping out I don my gown,
And feel dew on the ground.
I wish to offer you moonlight in a handful,
But, to my real shame, ‘tis impossible.
Retiring to my bed, it seems,
I might find happier days in dreams.

Farewell                                                 Du Mu

Full of passion but words fail me,
Wine cup in hand but I find no glee.
The candle has a heart for this parting night,
Dropping tears for me till day is bright.

贈  別                                                      杜 牧  

多 情 卻 似 總 無 情 ,         
唯 覺 樽 前 笑 不 成 。
蠟 燭 有 心 還 惜 別 ,         
替 人 垂 淚 到 天 明 。

思 帝 鄉                                                韋  莊  (836-910)

春 曰 游,
杏 花 吹 滿 頭。
陌 上 誰 家 年 少,
足 風 流。
妾 擬 將 身 嫁 與 ,
一 生 休。
縱 被 無 情 棄 ,
不 能 羞 。

Tune of Heavenly Home                    Wei Zhuang

Outing in spring,
Almond flower petals in the air.
The wind lent them wing,
To adorn my hair.
Whose youth is that over there?
Perfectly handsome and fair!
I intend to condescend
Myself, offering him my hand
For life, and then,
Even if I be cast aside in the end,
There’s no cause for me to repent.

Partridge Sky 

You, in dancing dress, offered me tenderly goblets of wine.
I, putting drunkenness to the back of my mind,
And with a blushing face, drank to my heart’s content.
The moon was high above when dancing began,
Which continued until it reached the willow branches’ end.
Dances and songs carried on until fatique, and then,
No energy was left even to wave a peach-blossom fan.
Ever since we parted, my only thought was to see you again,
How many times I’ve dreamed of meeting you hence.
Tonight, I raised the silver lamp to light up the place,
But still doubt if i am in a dream or this’ your real face.

鷓 鴣 天 (二)

彩 袖 殷 勤 捧 玉 鍾 ,
當 年 拚 却 醉 顏 紅。
舞 低 楊 栁 樓 心 月 ,
歌 盡 桃 花 扇 底 風。
從 別 後 ,
憶 相 逢 ,
幾 回 魂 夢 與 君 同。
今 宵 剩 把 銀 釭 照 ,
猶 恐 相 逢 是 夢 中。

The words of the ecstatic bride of the Semitic king Shu-Sin (about 2,000 BCE), in first extract below, with the first four verses of the Song of Songs:

The song of all songs that was Solomon’s

May he smother me with kisses.

Your love is more fragrant than wine,

fragrant is the scent of your perfume,

and your name like perfume poured out;

for this the maidens love you.

Take me with you, and we will run together;

bring me into your chamber, O king.

Song Of Solomon Chapter 8 

“For love is as strong as death, 

its jealousy unyielding as the grave. 

It burns like blazing fire, 

like a mighty flame. 

Many waters cannot quench love; 

rivers cannot wash it away. 

If one were to give 

all the wealth of his house for love, 

it would be utterly scorned.”

Man Of My Heart
Sumerian songs and poetry


Man of my heart, my beloved man,

your allure is a sweet thing, as sweet as honey.

Man of my heart, my beloved man,

your allure is a sweet thing, as sweet as honey.

You have captivated me,

of my own free will I will come to you.

Man, let me flee with you—into the bedroom.

You have captivated me;

of my own free will I shall come to you.

Lad, let me flee with you—into the bedroom.

Man, let me do the sweetest things to you.

My precious sweet, let me bring you honey.

In the bedchamber dripping with honey

let us enjoy over and over your allure, the sweet thing.

Lad, let me do the sweetest things to you.

My precious sweet, let me bring you honey.

Man, you have become attracted to me.

Speak to my mother and I will give myself to you;

speak to my father and he will make a gift of me.

I know where to give physical pleasure to your body--

sleep, man, in our house till morning.

I know how to bring heart's delight to your heart--

sleep, lad, in our house till morning.

Since you have fallen in love with me, man,

if only you would do your sweet thing to me.

My lord and god, my lord and guardian angel,

my Cu-Suen who cheers Enlil's heart,

if only you would handle your sweet place,

if only you would grasp your place that is sweet as honey.

Put your hand there for me

like the cover on a measuring cup.

Spread your hand there for me

like the cover on a cup of wood shavings.

My beloved met me,

Took his pleasure of me, rejoiced as one with me.

The brother brought me into his house,

Laid me down on a fragrant honey-bed.

My precious sweet, lying be my heart,

One by one "tongue making", one by one,

My brother of fairest face did so fifty times, . . .

My precious sweet is sated [saying]:

Set me free sister, set me free,

Come my beloved sister, I would go to the palace . . .

Erect for Me My Flowered Bed

Let them erect for me my flowered bed.

Let them spread it for me

with herbs like translucent lapis lazuli.

For me let them bring in the man of my heart.

Let them bring in to me my Ama-ucumgal-ana.

Let them put his hand in my hand,

let them put his heart by my heart.

As hand is put to head, the sleep is so pleasant.

As heart is pressed to heart, the pleasure is so sweet."

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