寄宋君辅

In office, one may be employed or set aside;

In learning, one may advance or retreat with the tide.

I only wish your roots be nurtured deep and wide,

For fame and high position may be hard to hide.

The virtues of Fan and Ou grow fresher with time,

The merits of Huang and Yu, recent, are hard to define.

Those who act first and those who stay still, in their prime,

Are truly chosen by the people, each in their clime.

Some are destined to wield the plow and share,

Some are destined for the carriage and courtly air.

I hear you take disciples once more, it's said,

Earning praise throughout the countryside.

The verdant youth answer with care, it's true,

But the turn of phrase is mine to construe.

My thoughts drift to the distant heavens, vast and high,

Alas, how few understand virtue, I sigh.

When I speak of our meetings, with feeling imbued,

We wandered together, though times were few.

What cup did you raise last night, pray tell?

What morsel did you savor after noon as well?

Regretting that a carefree life remains out of reach,

Our heartfelt words, though deep, seem shallow in speech.

Your eastern home, a landscape of hills and streams,

Must foster a spirit that broadly beams.

Green grass graces three paths in spring's gentle light,

Where quiet radiance bathes the moss, pure and bright.