All his life, Xiqing held a refined and curious mind,
At night he forgot sleep, by day forgot to eat, so inclined.
He searched the present, delved the past, exhausting heart and might,
Ever fearing a single thing in the world might slip from sight.
His cloud-wrapped windows, moonlit doors in misty haze,
Ten thousand treasures gathered, ivory labels in arrays.
Circling and patrolling, a thousand rounds each day,
Caressing, dusting, his heart melted in joy away.
When fierce bandits struck in sudden, chaotic plight,
The Six Ding spirits took all but a hair's breadth from his sight.
Gathering what remained for use still left him in need,
Yet he spared three precious gifts for me, a generous deed.
The first treasure: six scrolls of Lao Po's calligraphy fine,
Sealed by Master Canliao, whose approval did shine.
Like an angry roc of ninety thousand li, breath vast and deep,
Or a hundred-two Luminous Pearls, whose dazzling lights leap.
The second treasure: two scrolls of Yunzi's painting art,
Where Li and Du on skinny donkeys wander, set apart.
Passing the gate at Huayin County on a certain day,
Or seeking spring by Huanhua Stream in a leisurely way.
The third treasure: one zither from antiquity's dawn,
Made of lone tung-wood from Yi Mountain, finely drawn.
Engraved 'Shu Yu,' few in the world can compare,
Compared to the famed 'Xiang Quan,' it leaves that one bare.
Silver hooks and iron strokes prize correctness and grace,
But this was drunk and flying, like dragons in space.
Tiny horses, bean-sized figures prize fine detail,
But this breaks fences freely, without travail.
Golden pegs and jade bridges prize tonal delight,
But this finds joy beyond the strings, in sheer insight.
All heavenly craft springs from the breadth of one's breast,
The wondrous point cannot be traced by form's behest.
Loving these three treasures, I keep them by my side,
When wine flows freely, I call my donkey, ride astride.
Holding the zither, dropping reins, my black horn tilts askew,
Ringing clear, I chant aloud a summer night's poem, fresh and new.