Lady Gongsun by Tom Sharp

Gone is the beautiful dancer, Lady Gongsun, once fluid and unrestrained. Her sword dance startled like lightning, calmed all anger, and moved the four directions— to end like a sunset over a quiet sea. The royal family is gone, scattered like smoke and dust, and gone is the Lady Gongsu along with eight-thousand ladies from the emperor’s court, except for a single disciple, Li Shier Niang of Linying, who danced for us with the sword, and made me feel alone and sorry, walking the hills on callused feet.

观公孙大娘弟子舞剑器行 by 杜甫 (Du Fu)

昔有佳人公孙氏，一舞剑器动四方。 观者如山色沮丧，天地为之久低昂。 㸌如羿射九日落，矫如群帝骖龙翔。 来如雷霆收震怒，罢如江海凝青光。 绛唇珠袖两寂寞，晚有弟子传芬芳。 临颍美人在白帝，妙舞此曲神扬扬。 与余问答既有以，感时抚事增惋伤。 先帝侍女八千人，公孙剑器初第一。 五十年间似反掌，风尘澒洞昏王室。 梨园弟子散如烟，女乐馀姿映寒日。 金粟堆南木已拱，瞿塘石城草萧瑟。 玳筵急管曲复终，乐极哀来月东出。 老夫不知其所往，足茧荒山转愁疾。