Five-character Poems in Cursive Script

WANG DUO (1592-1652) Five-character Poems in Cursive Script Handscroll ink on satin 19 x 170 cm. (7 1/2 x 67 in.) Inscribed and signed with two seals of the artist Dated twenty-fourth day, seventh month, dinghai year (1647) Dedicated to Zhongfu Four collectors' seals TRANSLATION OF THE POEMS : Longing for Home I am sailing back home, having suffered so much hardship. Now I am still in Xue, but will reach Luofa in a few days. I feel miserable, amongst empty mountains under a sweltering sun. I hope that the weather will be fine and the waves peaceful. Nothing Can Be Done Forced to travel south, I experienced immense hardship and retreated to an old harbour. On this risky journey I rested here, spent winter and spring in this piece of foreign land. Locals believed the sea was full of monsters and the mountains were full of gods. Who could lead an idle life and become a cowman when he grew old? Dedicated to Lu Zichui Beside a rock in the hall, we drank and refused to go home. We rode on white deer, ordering black dragons to guard the door. The mist-shrouded study was ancient, the palm leaves were succulent. After your parting, my clothes fluttered in the rising wind. Visiting Baoshan On this seemingly melancholic and misty shore, I was asked to stay. While the sleeping crows appeared dead, the falling vines wilted in autumn. No matter war or peace, everything would eventually join the tide of history. As the woodcutter recounted old stories, I fished in the flowing river.