In late Tang, many recluses thrived,
Their forest pavilions, joy derived.
My homeland teems with scholars' crown,
Which garden offers rest renown?
The poor lack means, the rich disdain,
I, trapped indoors, in thought remain.
This plight I sigh, with no ground wide
For dragons in the depths to hide.
I hear you built a small retreat,
Where quiet thoughts and soul can meet.
Named 'Wild Charm', before it's seen,
My brow already smooths, serene.
You show a scroll of 'Wild Charm' verse,
Invite my pen its charm to rehearse.
I ponder its meaning, vast and deep,
With brush and paper, sighs I keep.
Who through the ages caught this charm?
Wild charm hides from the common swarm.
Your verse I grasp, its sense I know,
Write what I see, don't scorn me so.
From ancient courts to rustic days,
One wild charm through all realms stays.
No bronze or stone hung in the home,
No banners when abroad we roam.
No dragon-phoenix on the dress,
No tripods served at meals, no less.
Forget both poverty and wealth,
Ignore the neighbors' rise or stealth.
Grey hair and aged face content,
By hills and streams, all cares are spent.
Yao-Shun's rites first won folk's heart,
Tang-Wu's wars made doubtings start.
Luxury peaked in Qin and Han,
Drunk deep in bone till Sui's span.
Thus all the world lost wildness true,
Villagers boast, with manners few.
I see the cosmos, vast and grand,
Wild charm remains on every land.
Scattered and lost in every place,
Gathered in time, it finds its space.
Like guest long spurned, for years untended,
Once master comes, as fate intended.
Look through the ages, thousands past,
Few ancient traces long will last.
Thus know the writer, not mundane,
Successors must be wise and sane.
Land wild, away from city's roar,
Hut wild, with thatch piled at the door.
Grass wild, o'er paths in ruin deep,
Bamboo wild, sparse fences keep.
Spring wild, with mulberry shades dark,
Green leaves a foot long, thick and stark.
Autumn wild, crops bright and clear,
Purple tassels three feet appear.
Birds wild, not caged, in freedom fly,
Fish wild, not pond-bound, swim nearby.
No high officials come this way,
Chickens and dogs live free all day.
Let my head feel the wildness free,
Hair loose in cooling breeze I see.
Let my feet feel the wildness true,
Barefoot in cold streams I renew.
Stove wild, with fresh-cut wood to burn,
Vessels wild, plain porcelain in turn.
Walk wild, with old crane head held high,
Sit wild, lone bear-like, under sky.
Speak wild, from my own heart it springs,
Laugh wild, no echo others brings.
A bowl of wild fare, never scant,
A cup of wild herbs, what I want.
A jar of wild wine, few to share,
Drink alone, pour my own care.
Good, evil—I will not declare,
Fortune, woe—I will not care.
Promotion, demotion—unheard,
Order, chaos—no news, no word.
All things in wildness, wild they stay,
This wildness cannot fade away.
Heaven and earth, if not wild, fail,
Their patterns clash, their forms turn pale.
Sun and moon, if not wild, stray,
Their light won't shine in splendid ray.
Kunlun, Yingzhou, if not wild, lose,
Their jade and gold no more infuse.
Who gave this heart? I cannot tell,
A primal simplicity does dwell.
Wildness for all things can't be dressed,
Wildness for all ills gives no rest.
See not the hoe on Li Mountain wild?
Later, fine robes, zither, style.
See not the hoe at Youxin wild?
Later, aided Tang, war's child.
See not the hoe in Nanyang wild?
With Guan Zhong, shared plans compiled.
See not the hoe in Lili wild?
Like Jing Ke, with bold heart filed.
Alas, these four wild men of yore,
True wild charm they possessed no more.
Alas, I have this wild charm true,
With hills and streams, my life I woo.
Active, with deer and elk I roam,
At rest, with wood and stone, my home.
The north long lost Heaven's decree,
Zhou king in wrath, like god, set free.
Swift horsemen like storm winds advance,
Black flags against the stars do dance.
Costly campaigns, no fear of price,
Six-winged drought snake, a grim device.
If lords all joined in righteous band,
To guard the people, take their stand.
I have five-colored thread so fine,
To mend the robe, make it divine.
I have five-colored stone so bright,
To mend the sky, bring back the light.
Wild verse not read by noble eyes,
Wild paintings not for their surmise.
The court needs no wild man like me,
With wild clouds as my company.