The heavenly steed emerges from the Yue-zhi cave,
Its back tiger-striped, bones like dragon wings.
Neighing at blue clouds,
shaking its green mane,
Sinews superb, it runs vanishing from sight.
Soars over Kunlun,
traverses the Western Pole,
all four hooves never stumbling.
At cockcrow it groomed in Yan, by dusk fed in Yue,
Divine speed, lightning pace, treading the vague void.
The heavenly steed calls,
flying dragons hasten,
Eyes bright as Venus, chest like twin ducks.
Tail like a shooting star, head like a jet-black crow,
Mouth spews red light, sweat channels run crimson.
Once accompanied timely dragons on the celestial road,
Bridled in gold, moonlit, shining on the capital.
Its lofty spirit towers over the nine regions,
White jade piled like mountains, who dares to price?
Looking back, it laughs at the Purple Swallow,
feeling your kind is foolish.
The heavenly steed gallops,
yearning for its lord's chariot,
Leaping startled, turning floating clouds.
For miles its feet hesitate,
gazing afar at the Celestial Gate.
Meeting no Master of the Cold Wind,
who will recognize this descendant of fleet shadows?
White clouds in the blue sky,
hills and mounds far, towering.
A salt cart climbs a steep slope,
moving backward, against the way, fearing the day's end.
A伯乐 groomed it but abandoned mid-way,
Exhausted in youth, discarded in old age.
I wish to meet Tian Zifang,
who would pity me with sorrow.
Though there is jade-mountain grain,
it cannot cure bitter hunger.
Harsh frost in May withers cassia branches,
Stabled, nursing grievance, brows furrowed.
I beg you redeem and offer me to Emperor Mu,
I could still cast my shadow and dance at Jade Pool.