THE CROSSWISE RIVER

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BY LI T'AI-PO

I
There are people who say the Crosswise River is good;
I say the Crosswise River is terrible.
The savage wind blows as if it would overturn the Heaven's Gate Mountains.
The white waves are as high as the high rooms in the Temple of Wa Kuan.
II
The sea tide flowing Southward passes HsÜn Yang.
From the beginning of things, the Ox Ledge has been more dangerous than the Standing Horse Hill.
Those who wish to cross the Crosswise River
Find evil winds and waves.
The misery of that one stretch of water draws out its length to ten thousand _li_.
III
When the Sea Demon passes by, a vicious wind curves back.
The waves beat open the rock wall of the Gate of Heaven.
Is the Eighth Month tide-bore of ChÊkiang equal to this?
It seems as though the vast, booming waves were part of the mountains—they spurt out snow.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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