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Palace Concerto

William He

Lyric
Palace Concerto
By William He

A stately and radiant courtyard,
Sleight of the artists' hands.
To the celestial sphere,
Glorious and golden on the roofs,
Like hues when harpyia wings stretch.
Flittering through seraglio,
Phoenix betwixt shining oriels,
Azure Dragon midst the walls of closest trim.
Slow-flaming crimson fires,
Behind the hid and rainbow-dyed range.

His Majesty yearns to return,
Serenity spreads its velvety wings,
Digging within himself for elixir of life.
In the light of Nirvana,
Reminiscing on the stupas,
The richest jewel inside is the pious soul.
The spirit inly crawls,
Grotto pictures decked the arras drear,
In the lamplit alcoves,
To get happiness in bodily shrine.
Through luminous windows,
The rhymes of rejoices in the air,
Echoed heart with a lovely tune.

The divine consciousness,
And the joy and harmony,
Angels in Hall of Mental Cultivation met.
Besides the miracle garden,
Relief pneuma from burdensome,
What is it that takes away the sin,
Discerning to soulful dawn,
Picture of mind revives then.
Pedrini playing a piano sonata,
Witnessing holy movement,
Life on the gigantic obelisk men etched,
Riddle of the painful earth,
On phantasms weeping tears of blood.
Uncertain and unaware,
Unscrupulous means all ill shows,
The truth left abandoned and stark.

Bongs precede the tinted twilight,
Towers domed with purest white,
Delighting the eye with snow crystals.
To mimic the heaven,
Whirlwinds and banners unfurl,
To escaping the misfortunes,
To create tunes about nature,
A place of frolic, fiesta and fun.
The lamps gracefully dispose,
Tchaikovsky with virtuous wish,
The world-worn Dante grasps his strain,
Mellow tones of a violin,
A nightingale with choral starry dance.
From sullen earth sing hymns to empyrean,
Willows converse beneath,
Purple clouds with nymph.

莺啼序 故宫协奏曲
作者：何威廉

光浮紫微阆苑，
似层台罗缀。
干轴贯、
雕萼挥斤，
掠檐扉以金翅。
两翼曳，
凰翻绣羽，
青龙俯越而覃霈。
恰红墙映照，
熠然阊阖天地。

宝鼎玄珠，
雨花心印，
应轮回萦系。
莲花烛、
佛塔香檀，
灯前参悟经纬。
念摩诃、
莫高洞窟，
开五色、
垂恩兼济。
梵音飘，
弦妙音扬，
绕梁轻细。

通微修教，
协睦万邦，
养心殿神使。
盈圣道、
尘俯澄穆，
莹彻心神，
问路灵程，
十字凭寄。
奏鸣曲度，
三重冠冕，
塔尖丛聚烟霄半，
怎奈何、
四海愁魑魅。
流年恍惚，
深禁翡翠鸣环，
前殿万灵忧恚。

钟声暮霭，
塔影楼高，
漫玉枝银桂。
列仙会、
霓旌云旆，
普渡逍遥，
福善伊甸，
醉眼浮世。
星灯响乐，
天鹅芭蕾，
六宫歌拍出云表，
待援琴、
凤绕甘泉憩。
禁城虚伫恩膏，
柳眼才舒，
角楼雪霁。

About this poem

A profound exploration of themes ranging from earthly majesty and cultural synthesis to spiritual yearning and existential reflection. Through its use of imagery, symbolism, and poetic language, the poem invites readers into a world where the boundaries between art, nature, and spirituality dissolve, leaving room for introspection and philosophical inquiry. Its nuanced portrayal of a palace setting as both a center of artistic splendor and a place of spiritual quest underscores the complexity of human aspirations and the eternal search for meaning amidst the transient beauty of the world. As such, "Concerto" stands as a testament to the enduring power of poetry to illuminate the depths of the human experience. 

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Written on June 04, 2021

Submitted by chinamcc8 on December 16, 2023

Modified by chinamcc8 on July 05, 2024

2:01 min read
2,658

Quick analysis:

Scheme XA XBCXXDBXXX EXXFBDXCXXGHX XAXIXJXXFXXXXHGX KKXIDXXIGXXJXEXX
Closest metre Iambic dimeter
Characters 2,798
Words 406
Stanzas 10
Stanza Lengths 2, 10, 13, 16, 16, 2, 10, 13, 16, 16
Full analysis for Palace Concerto »

William He

 · 1961

William Yu He graduated from two of the most prestigious law schools in China respectively, also studied in Heidelberg, Cambridge and Harvard. He has published dozens of classical poems and lyrics in Chinese language. Three of his poems were collected in the antholog “call my name and I 'll be there" published in February, 2024. He is know for five of his poems included in the anthology in English "Dancing on Moonbeams" published in USA in September, 2024. He already published his English poetry anthology "Eyes Wide Open: Poems by William He" in USA. The Incumbent President of China quoted his classic poem in 2017. The President of Harvard University recognized his achievements in June, 2021. more…

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19 Comments
  • krystynmaynard
    krystynmaynard
    A historic poem.
    LikeReply1 month ago
  • susanh.04604
    susanh.04604
    I think it's beautiful and mysterious.
    LikeReply1 month ago
  • RandomGuest
    RandomGuest
    Which dante do you refer to?
    I checked the Internet and know that dante is an Italian poet instead of a composer.
    But in the Chinese version, I found that Tchaivsky composed swan lake, so I guess that the Italian poet Dante can also compose ''strain''.
    天鹅芭蕾
    六宫歌拍出云表
    六宫歌 comes after 天鹅芭蕾.
    The word was first ''song'', then ''melody'', and finally ''strain''.
    Is Dante a composer? Another Dante?
    In the last stanza, you'll probably want to mean that the music of the palace museum is beautiful. And you compare it to the Swan Lake ballet and a piece music by Dante.     
    LikeReply3 months ago
  • RandomGuest
    RandomGuest
    Tchaikovsky, do you mean the composer of the ballet Swan Lake?
    LikeReply3 months ago
  • fafafafa
    fafafafa
    Some contents I Can't understand:
    1.His Majesty yearns to return,>;
    Serenity spreads its velvety wings,
    Digging within himself for elixir of life.
    a run-on sentence

    2.In the light of Nirvana,
    Reminiscing on the stupas,
    The richest jewel inside is the pious soul.
    Add He before Reminiscing, which refers to the Phoenix. But I think it discrepitant that in the Chinese version 凰翻绣羽 is about the female divine bird rather than male. Dangling participles are not justified in modern English apart from some set phrases like Considering, Provided, Supposing etc. And Reminiscing on the stupas is a dangling participle.
    3.The spirit inly crawls,
    Grotto pictures decked the arras drear,>;
    In the lamplit alcoves,
    To get happiness in bodily shrine.
    a run-on sentence
    4.Through luminous windows,
    The rhymes of rejoices in the air,
    Echoed heart with a lovely tune.
    In should be added before heart. A wall or sth can echo your voice or sound, but not your heart. You can change it into an intransitive verb.
    5.To the celestial sphere,
    Glorious and golden on the roofs,
    Like hues when harpyia wings stretch.
    You can add ray, light, or lustre after golden because the sentence lacks a noun as the subject.
    6.Besides the miracle garden
    What is miracle garden? Probably better written as Miracle Garden. I think it is a place in the palace museum.
    7.Pedrini playing a piano sonata,
    Witnessing holy movement,>.
    Life on the gigantic obelisk men etched,
    Riddle of the painful earth,
    On phantasms weeping tears of blood.
    Riddle can be the appositive of Life.
    You probably mean that De Lige was miserable and obscure in his lifetime. By the way what's C.M. in your comment?
    What is the holy movement? Related to history of Qing Dynasty?
    8.Uncertain and unaware,
    Unscrupulous means all ill shows,
    The truth left abandoned and stark.
    Add Being or To be before Uncertain, or change means into are to form an inverted sentence. I have only seen 3 examples of adjective as the subject, in provobial or colloquial contexts:
    Well begun is half done.
    Slow and steady wins the race.
    Born blind is tough in any case.
    I don't think it right to use adjectives as the subject in written English unless there are more examples.
    9.To mimic the heaven,
    Whirlwinds and banners unfurl,
    To escaping>escape the misfortunes,
    To create tunes about nature,
    A place of frolic, fiesta and fun.
    for parallelism
    10.From sullen earth sing hymns to empyrean,>.
    I can take it that there's omitted I if you end the sentence with a period instead of a comma. But it's proper.
    Questions:
    1.深禁翡翠鸣环,前殿万灵忧恚. In the forbidden city your jade jingled and why the gloom and wrath of panthean? Do you mean the departure of the missionary in the stanza?
    2.Where's 养心殿? And Chenfu and Chenglu?
    3.十字凭寄 You cross your fingers for his good luck?
    4. Why 3 重冠冕?
    5禁城虚伫恩膏，柳眼才舒，角楼雪霁
    In the forbidden is its bounty fake?
    After snow and you think of spring?     
    LikeReply4 months ago
    • chinamcc8
      chinamcc8
      I wander thro’ each charter’d street，Near where the charter’d Thames does flow，And mark in every face I meet，Marks of weakness， marks of woe.In every cry of every Man，In every Infant’s cry of fear，In every voice， in every ban，The mind-fog’d manackes I hear.How the chimney-sweeper’s cry，Every black’ning church appals，And the hapless soldier’s sigh，Runs in blood down palace walls.But most thro’ midnight streets I hear，How the youthful harlot’s curse，Blasts the new-born infant’s tear，And blights with plagues the marriage hearse.（“London”from William Blake） 
      LikeReply4 months ago
  • fafafafa
    fafafafa
    the Chinese version paraphrase the first stanza (unluckily no Chinese is allowed in this comment. Nihao and the likes of that are not screened by the site system. But lengthy Chinese contents will contain screened words that I can't separate out.)

    Guāng fú zǐwēi (a constellation) làngyuàn (heaven),
    sì céngtái luózhuì.
    As is in the celestial wonderland symbolizing imperial power, the forbidden city is immersed in the light of the Ziwei star in the sky. The complexes of the building is like layer by layer the jewelry.

    Gānzhóu (the pillar) guàn,
    diāo è huī jīn,
    lüè yán fēi yǐ jīn chì.
    The pillars penetrate the building. Its petallike engravings are the result under the skilful axes of artisans, that grace the palace eaves and doors with golden wings of Phoenix.
    Liǎng yì yè,
    Huáng fān xiù yǔ,
    Qīnglóng fǔ yuè ér tánpèi (solemnly).
    Phonics spread its wings wide to sides with beautiful feathers. The auspicious blue dragon is that naunce of the solemn buidings of gugong.
    Qià hóng qiáng yìng zhào,
    yìrán chānghé tiāndì.
    In the morning, the red painted walls of Gu Gong shine bright. It splits the way between thw earth and sky.

    Bǎo dǐng xuán zhū,
    yǔhuā xīn yìn,
    yīng lúnhuí yíng xì.
    liánhuā zhú,
    fótǎ xiāngtán,
    dēng qián cānwù jīngwěi.
    niàn móhē、
    mògāo dòngkū,
    kāi wǔ sè、
    chuí ēn jiān jì.
    fàn yīn piāo,
    xián miào yīn yáng,
    rào liáng qīng xì.

    tōng wēi xiū jiào,
    xié mù wàn bāng,
    Yǎngxīndiàn shén shǐ.
    yíng shèngdào,
    chén fǔ chéng mù,
    yíng chè xīn shén,
    wèn lù líng chéng,
    shízì píng jì.
    zòu míngqǔdù,
    sān chóng guānmiǎn,
    tǎjiān cóng jù yān xiāo bàn,
    zěn nàihé、
    sìhǎi chóu chīmèi.
    liúnián huǎnghū,
    shēn jìn fěicuì mínghuán,
    qián diàn wàn líng yōuhuì.

    zhōngshēng mùǎi,
    tǎ yǐng lóu gāo,
    màn yù zhī yín guì.
    Liè xiān huì,
    ní jīng yún pèi,
    pǔ dù xiāo yáo,
    fú shàn yīdiàn,
    zuì yǎn fúshì.
    xīng dēng xiǎng yuè,
    tiāné bāléi,
    liù gōng gē pāi chū yún biǎo,
    dài yuán qín、
    fèng rào gān quán qì.
    jìn chéng xū zhù ēn gāo,
    liǔ yǎn cái shū,
    jiǎolóu xuě jì.
    the pronunciation of the Chinese version. title: Yingtixu Gugong Xieziuqu.     
    LikeReply4 months ago
    • chinamcc8
      chinamcc8
      Are you a sinologist, like Stephen Owen?
      LikeReply4 months ago
    • fafafafa
      fafafafa
      No, I am 18 years old and have just graduated from high school. I am in mainland China and I'm surprised that I can gain access to such an unbanned website without VPN. I know little about classic Chinese, and some words in your (Are you William He in person or a friend of his?) English poetry also make me intrigued. 'Sinologist' is a new term to me as well as Stephen Owen, but since I have difficulty understanding the Classic Chinese version, I admit I am no expert in Sinean (Chinese) studies.

      More annotations from you would be better, or I have to ask AI to figure out the meaning behind the vagaries of your language. I am burning to learn more out of my ken.

      Excuse me, what is the source of your William He's poetry?

      不，我今年18岁，刚刚高中毕业. 我在中国大陆，我很惊�
      我可以访问这样的没被 ban 的网站且不挂梯子. 我不太懂古汉语，且一些单词在你的(你是何威廉本人或他的朋友？)英语诗歌使我感兴�
      �. “汉学�
      ”对我都是一个新名词，且我也不认识 Stephen Owen，但由于我很难理解文言文的诗歌版本，我承认我不是汉学研�
      的专�
      .

      你多做些注释就更好了，否则我得问AI（阿里巴巴的通义app）来理解你的诗歌的意思. 我渴望了解更多我不了解的东西.

      请问您的何威廉的诗歌什么来源？
      （我发现中文里的句号是屏蔽词，评论是可以用中文的.）       
      LikeReply4 months ago
  • fafafafa
    fafafafa
    Guāng fú zǐwēi làngyuàn,
    sì céngtái luózhuì.
    Gānzhóu guàn,
    diāo è huī jīn,
    lüè yán fēi yǐ jīn chì.
    Liǎng yì yè,
    Huáng fān xiù yǔ,
    Qīnglóng fǔ yuè ér tánpèi.
    Qià hóng qiáng yìng zhào,
    yìrán chānghé tiāndì.

    Bǎo dǐng xuán zhū,
    yǔhuā xīn yìn,
    yīng lúnhuí yíng xì.
    liánhuā zhú,
    fótǎ xiāngtán,
    dēng qián cānwù jīngwěi.
    niàn móhē、
    mògāo dòngkū,
    kāi wǔ sè、
    chuí ēn jiān jì.
    fàn yīn piāo,
    xián miào yīn yáng,
    rào liáng qīng xì.

    tōng wēi xiū jiào,
    xié mù wàn bāng,
    Yǎngxīndiàn shén shǐ.
    yíng shèngdào,
    chén fǔ chéng mù,
    yíng chè xīn shén,
    wèn lù líng chéng,
    shízì píng jì.
    zòu míngqǔdù,
    sān chóng guānmiǎn,
    tǎjiān cóng jù yān xiāo bàn,
    zěn nàihé、
    sìhǎi chóu chīmèi.
    liúnián huǎnghū,
    shēn jìn fěicuì mínghuán,
    qián diàn wàn líng yōuhuì.

    zhōngshēng mùǎi,
    tǎ yǐng lóu gāo,
    màn yù zhī yín guì.
    Liè xiān huì,
    ní jīng yún pèi,
    pǔ dù xiāo yáo,
    fú shàn yīdiàn,
    zuì yǎn fúshì.
    xīng dēng xiǎng yuè,
    tiāné bāléi,
    liù gōng gē pāi chū yún biǎo,
    dài yuán qín、
    fèng rào gān quán qì.
    jìn chéng xū zhù ēn gāo,
    liǔ yǎn cái shū,
    jiǎolóu xuě jì.
    the pronunciation of the Chinese version. title: Yingtixu Gugong Xieziuqu.     
    LikeReply4 months ago
  • fafafafa
    fafafafa
    papaphrase
    The first stanza

    A stately and radiant courtyard, Sleight of the artists' hands.
    A stately and reed and courtyard was made by skillful artists.
    To the celestial sphere, Glorious and golden on the roofs, Like hues when harpyia wings stretch.
    The palace shines as if it were in heaven, like the birdwinged creature harpyia spreading its wings.
    Flittering through seraglio, Phoenix betwixt shining oriels, Azure Dragon midst the walls of closest trim.
    The captivating luster careered through a grand palace. Phoenix danced among the brightly lit windows. Qinglong (The blue dragon, an auspicious beast) soars above well aligned walls.
    Slow-flaming crimson fires, Behind the hid and rainbow-dyed range.
    The manoeuvres of the dragon was like crimson fires behind the hidden and Rambo died Mountain range.

    2nd

    His Majesty yearns to return, Serenity spreads its velvety wings, Digging within himself for elixir of life.
    The Phoenix yearns to return. Its fluffy wings are beauteous. It wants immortality by means of the panacea that extends its lifespan.
    In the light of Nirvana, Reminiscing on the stupas, The richest jewel inside is the pious soul.
    Shining in its rebirth where it goes up in flames, she (Huang, a character for the female divine bird) reflects on the Buddhist tower. Its piousness is priceless like luxurious jewels.
    The spirit inly crawls, Grotto pictures decked the arras drear, In the lamplit alcoves, To get happiness in bodily shrine.
    Her spirit crawls from within. There are grotto pictures that decorate the Mogao Caves where there are dreary tapestries, to get happiness in bodily shrine.
    Through luminous windows, The rhymes of rejoices in the air, Echoed heart with a lovely tune.

    3rd

    The divine consciousness, And the joy and harmony, Angels in Hall of Mental Cultivation met.

    Besides the miracle garden, Relief pneuma (soul) from burdensome, What is it that takes away the sin, Discerning to soulful dawn, Picture of mind revives then.

    Pedrini playing a piano sonata, Witnessing holy movement, Life on the gigantic obelisk (giant spike) men etched, Riddle of the painful earth, On phantasms weeping tears of blood.
    John Petrini, an American actor 1911 to 1990.
    Uncertain and unaware, Unscrupulous means all ill shows, The truth left abandoned and stark.

    4th

    Bongs precede the tinted twilight, Towers domed with purest white, Delighting the eye with snow crystals.
    The sound of bronze chime signals the advent of the colorful twilight.
    The ceiling of the towers are the purest white which pleases our eyes.
    To mimic the heaven, Whirlwinds and banners unfurl (unfold), To escaping the misfortunes, To create tunes about nature, A place of frolic, fiesta and fun.

    The lamps gracefully dispose, Tchaikovsky (Russian composer) with virtuous wish, The world-worn Dante grasps his melody, Mellow tones of a violin, A nightingale with choral starry dance.

    From sullen earth sing hymns to empyrean (heaven), Willows converse beneath, Purple clouds (a referenc     
    LikeReply4 months ago
    • chinamcc8
      chinamcc8
      Thank you for your comment. Teodorico Pedrini instead of John Petrini, an American actor 1911 to 1990.
      Teodorico Pedrini, C.M. (June 30, 1671 – December 10, 1746), also known by his Chinese name De Lige, was an Italian Vincentian priest, musician and composer, but he was mainly a missionary at the imperial court of China for 36 years. 
      LikeReply4 months ago
  • fafafafa
    fafafafa
    I am surprised that the writer modified the grasp error within an hour. Another typo: artists' hand instead of artists hand.
    LikeReply4 months ago
    • chinamcc8
      chinamcc8
      Thank you for your comment.
      LikeReply4 months ago
  • fafafafa
    fafafafa
    Its improper punctuation makes me confused, as well as not grammatically well structured language. A spaghetti on the wall with some strange words and incongruent grammar indeed. Though I know the leftout of be can be seen in poem, but the poet seems to abuse it. Or just out of my ken. So impossible to fairly comment on such a poem, But I admit it unpleasant to read for me.
    I spot a grammar mistake in the last stanza:
    The world-worn Dante grasp>grasps his song,     
    LikeReply4 months ago
    • chinamcc8
      chinamcc8
      Looking forward to your comment on the version in Chinese.
      LikeReply4 months ago
  • alanswansea18
    alanswansea18
    A beautiful piece of work.
    LikeReply4 months ago
  • jackg.26131
    jackg.26131
    wow fantastic poem
    LikeReply4 months ago
  • Dianejean57
    Dianejean57
    Well done.
    LikeReply4 months ago
  • israel_u
    israel_u
    Chinese all the way.
    LikeReply5 months ago
  • israel_u
    israel_u
    I need a note to understand this.
    LikeReply5 months ago
  • israel_u
    israel_u
    Music, song and dance are all embedded in mystery, which is an integral element in art.
    LikeReply5 months ago
    • chinamcc8
      chinamcc8
      Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.
      LikeReply4 months ago
  • elizabethh.11605
    elizabethh.11605
    love it
    LikeReply5 months ago
  • IzzyMG
    IzzyMG
    A wonderful piece that marries cultural and artistic ideas from east and west.
    LikeReply5 months ago
    • chinamcc8
      chinamcc8
      Thank you for your kind words.
      LikeReply 14 months ago
  • alanswansea18
    alanswansea18
    I love it.
    LikeReply5 months ago

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"Palace Concerto" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Nov. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/176218/palace-concerto>.

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November 2024

Poetry Contest

Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
7
days
20
hours
6
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107 entries submitted — 43 remaining

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Quiz

Are you a poetry master?

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Who wrote the poem 'Still I Rise'?
A Maya Angelou
B Audre Loude
C Edgar Allen Poe
D Sylvia Plath