The “D” for today is honoring the celebration of China’s Dragon Boat Festival, which begins today.  Learn more about this important festival here.  It began way back when, to honor a poet, yes a poet, who many feel is the greatest Chinese poet of all time, Qu Yuan.

Qu Yuan

CROSSING THE RIVER, by Qu Yuan

Since I was young I have worn gorgeous dress
And still love raiment rare,
A long gem-studded sword hangs at my side,
And a tall hat I wear.
Bedecked with pearls that glimmer like the moon,
With pendent of fine jade,
Though there are fools who cannot understand,
I ride by undismayed.

Then give me green-horned serpents for my steed,
Or dragons white to ride,
In paradise with ancient kings I’d roam,
Or the world’s roof bestride.
My life should thus outlast the universe,
With sun and moon supreme.
By southern savages misunderstood,
At dawn I ford the stream.

I gaze my last upon the river bank,
The autumn breeze blows chill.
I halt my carriage here within the wood
My steeds beside the hill.
In covered vessel travelling upstream,
The men bend to their oars;
The boat moves slowly, strong the current sweeps,
Nearby a whirlpool roars.

I set out from the bay at early dawn,
And reach the town at eve.
Since I am upright, and my conscience clear,
Why should I grieve to leave?
I linger by the tributary stream,
And know not where to go.
The forest stretches deep and dark around,
Where apes swing to and fro.

The beetling cliffs loom high to shade the sun,
Mist shrouding every rift,
With sleet and rain as far as eye can see,
Where low the dense clouds drift.
Alas! all joy has vanished from my life,
Alone beside the hill.
Never to follow fashion will I stoop,
Then must live lonely still.

One sage of old had head shaved like a slave,
Good ministers were killed,
In nakedness one saint was forced to roam,
Another’s blood was spilled.
This has been so from ancient times till now,
Then why should I complain?
Unflinchingly I still shall follow truth,
Nor care if I am slain.

Refrain
Now, the phoenix dispossessed,
In the shrine crows make their nest.
Withered is the jasmine rare,
Fair is foul, and foul is fair,
Light is darkness, darkness day,
Sad at heart I haste away.

from Translated Chinese Poetry

Now on to the music.  I picked up a 2 disc set from the L called “Burt Bacharach and Friends Gold,” released in 2006.  There are over 40 songs on this set, hit after hit by star after star.  When they are all together like this it is almost too much, like going to an art gallery and the walls are crammed frame to frame with Van Gogh paintings.  The song I chose from these many shining works is, “I Say a Little Prayer,” written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and sung by Aretha Franklin.

The moment I wake up
Before I put on my makeup (makeup)
I say a little (prayer for you)
And while I’m combing my hair now
And wondering what dress to wear now (wear now)
I say a little (prayer for you)

yeah
(You’ll stay in my heart and I will love you)
(Forever) Forever (and ever) ever
(We never will part, oh, how I love you)
(Together) Together (together) together
(That’s how it must be to live without you)
(Would only mean heartbreak for me)

I run for the bus, dear
And while riding I think of us, dear (us, dear)
I say a little (prayer for you)
And at work I just take time
And all through my coffee break time (break time)
I say a little (prayer for you)

and ever
(You’ll stay in my heart and I will love you)
(Forever) Forever (and ever) and ever
(We never will part, oh, how I love you)
(Together) together (together) together
(That’s how it must be to live without you)
(Would only mean heartbreak for me)
Nobody but me

ever
(You’ll stay in my heart and I will love you)
(Forever) Forever (and ever) ever
(We never will part, oh, how I love you)
(Together) together (together) together
(That’s how it must be to live without you)
(Would only mean heartbreak for me)

My darling, believe me (believe me)
For me there is no one but you
Please love me true
I’m in love with you (Answer my prayer)
Answer my prayer, baby (Answer my prayer)
Say you’ll love me true (Answer my prayer)
Answer my prayer, baby (Answer my prayer)

ever
(You’ll stay in my heart and I will love you) Ever
(Forever) Forever (and ever) ever
(We never will part, oh, how I love you)
(Together) together (together) together
(That’s how it must be to live without you)
(Would only mean heartbreak for me)
Oh, nobody but me

My darling, believe me (Believe me)
For me there is no one but you
Please love me true

This is my prayer (Answer my prayer)
Answer my prayer now, baby (Answer my prayer, baby)
This is my prayer (Answer my prayer, baby)
Answer it right now, baby (Answer my prayer, baby)
Say you’ll love me true (Answer my prayer, baby)
This is my prayer, baby (Answer my prayer, baby)
I’m in love with you (Answer my prayer)

Songwriters: DAVID HAL / BACHARACH BURT F