In youth I prized gallant knights,
In tender years despised official rites.
Having won the world's acclaim,
I then enjoyed my parents' fond acclaim.
Roamed by Ba River's winding shore,
Saw moon and breeze at Luoyang's core.
Knowing no jade-like feast in store,
Who'd chase a golden pellet for?
Golden pellets, jade feasts, a world so fine,
Boasting I'd scorn Shi Chong's grand design.
Five lords raced steeds for miles ahead,
Three roads vied with perfume-chariots spread.
Veiled terraces caught the setting sun,
Layered screens drew the dawn, one by one.
The old pond water hung like a mirror clear,
New indoor beauties rivalled flowers here.
Vigour like wind and clouds, gone as yesterday,
Years and seasons have swiftly slipped away.
Imperial gardens saw willow down fly,
Central parks watched plum blossoms die.
Where are the clients of that time now?
Old friends from the past are distant, anyhow.
Don't let grief mar your face and grace,
Wait till autumn clouds clear apace.
Lingering in the capital town,
Idle, I've known both heat and frost's renown.
Once clad in coarse short gown,
For six years in long corridors I bowed down.
My verse shamed the steed of old,
Halberd in hand, I sighed at tales foretold.
Wielding spear, I left the martial tent,
Taking brush, entered the civil government.
The civil quarter looms within the royal wall,
Since old times, talents there stand tall.
Pan and Lu's words like arrows fly,
Zhang and Cao's pens in academy rise high.
Ministers never knew my name,
Could lords and princes match my aim?
Fishing, I'd be a white-haired man alone,
Carrying wood, where's a true friend known?
I'll leave my fate to chance, rich or poor,
Odd twists have always let me drift for sure.
Not meant to be discarded like straw dogs forever,
But like tumbleweed, adrift however.
Face and hair change with each year,
Spring's bloom returns, same and clear.
Honours not fully paid with rite,
I serve my lord to show my might.
Greased wheels, fed steeds, leave homeland far,
Reins turned southwest to Qiongbo's bar.
Jade Fort, Bronze Beam hard to ascend,
World's edge, sky's corner, no way to comprehend.
Orioles, cicadas sing with mournful air,
Swans, wild geese come, no news to share.
Sunny Pass veiled in fog, miles dim,
Sword Gate's peaks in thousand hues grim.
The Shu road stretches endlessly,
Min peaks block, rugged and lofty.
Guts twisted with nine turns of way,
Tears burst forth in double streams' play.
Cold light spreads for miles at dusk,
Dewy air chills two rivers' autumn musk.
Long road sees horses tightly bound,
Calm water sinks oxen down.
Huayang's old land marks divine might,
Stone Mirror, Emei, truly fair and bright.
Zhuge's talent, hailed as dragon grand,
Gongsun on horseback claimed imperial land.
Five Ding men, strong and strange in power,
Four scholars, rich in art's fine flower.
Clouds spread the Eight Array's form wide,
Bridge shape splits Seven Stars' stride.
River plain, mist and smoke clear away,
I roam by Brocade City's bay.
High wall, turtle gaze stretches out,
Clear water, wild geese's writing about.
Seeking beauty, enter the wine shop,
Visiting guests, climb the Zither's top.
Unaware of sable hat's heavy weight,
But pity the jade mountain's fallen state.
In other lands, months and years slowly fade,
The capital, deep, by walls and gates stayed.
No ape cries aid the traveler's wail,
Only journey thoughts with flowers set sail.
My home lies far beyond mountain passes high,
Mountain passes far, impossible to fly.
Old garden's plum and willow keep spring's trace,
When I return, don't let fragrance efface.
Unhitch saddle, wish to speak of return,
Holding sleeves, sad partings I discern.
North bridge, we all shake hands in pain,
South shore, together tears stain.
Parting grieves the carriage gone,
Leaving misses the setting sun.
Where to entrust a bosom friend?
Leaves fall, wild geese southward send.
Back, I gaze on the level plain,
Spring comes, wine should be ripe again.
Together in mushroom tower by green stream we lie,
And with vine cups float yellow chrysanthemums high.
Ten years unpromoted due to poverty's plight,
A hundred moves follow fortune's rise and fall's might.
Just for land near the city wall to own,
I seek again the county's salary alone.
A hundred years, depressed, few rises seen,
Ten thousand miles, into Mirror River keen.
Si River's tide brushes the bright sun,
Huaihai's long waves touch distant sky as one.
Bamboo thickets gather morning dew,
Lone hills raise evening smoke anew.
Thanks to the frontier town's moon bright,
Often with traveler's banners in sight.
Southeast fine arrows, Wu's fame declare,
Famous town hidden beyond three rivers' lair.
Tushan held jade in prosperous date,
Winding stream opened minds, scholars congregate.
Immortal arrows' sound at Crane Ridge rings,
Precious sword's light on Dragon Rapid flings.
Not yet see white horse against reed grass,
But feel floating clouds like carriage's mass.
South of the River, seasons oft change,
With wine and verse, I frequently range.
Together tread spring river's bend,
All sing the water chestnut song to send.
Boat moves as if entering a mirror's face,
Oar lifts as if riding a wave's grace.
Scenery's beauty knows no bound,
Returning oar hindered by lotus pond.
Gazing at mist and rosy clouds with delight,
I turn the prow from royal tasks in flight.
Fairy fields, flowers, moon, I linger there,
Golden Valley's fine times, revisit with care.
Climb high, northward laugh at Liang's old man,
Leaning on carriage, westward think of Pan.
Peak opens, Hua Yue stands like lotus high,
Water rushes at Dragon Gate, swift as arrow's fly.
Human affairs fade with time's swift race,
Suddenly struck by frost and dew's embrace.
Stealing to keep this seven-foot frame,
Part buried in nine springs' deep claim.
At road's end, weep for jade's plight,
On angry path, no gold hid from sight.
Eating bitter weeds, only sigh in vain,
Holding oranges, alone with heart's pain.
Years come and go, melting away,
Hopes in my bosom gradually decay.
Hanging cap, tearing crown, left glory behind,
South fields, east hills, to ploughing confined.
Guest halls and steps often left bare,
Overgrown paths, wood doors, lonely and spare.
With woods and springs fit to dwell in peace,
Why seek hills and valleys for release?
I live outside Green Gate's domain,
Home by the plain Chan River's lane.
Gaze far at Red Phoenix Tower high,
Look askance at Black Dragon Ford nearby.
Deserted streets lead hunting rides,
Poor lanes meet woodcutter's carts besides.
Sometimes Peach Spring guests appear,
To visit Bamboo Grove men here.
Last night, zither played a mournful air,
At dawn, frowning, I couldn't smile fair.
Indeed, a piebald horse brought noisy decree,
Again, officials received silk command's plea.
Ye Chang, though guiltless, once in chains,
Chang Ru, as ashes, also knew pains.
High gates have merit, not for fief's gain,
Sharp pen unheard, its skill in vain.
Just left Capital's slanderous word,
Then faced the censor's accusing sword.
Summer's heat aids its scene's might,
Level tune, plus autumn writing's flight.
Drawing on ground, hard to enter in,
Writing in air, restless within.
Blowing for flaws can't be awaited,
Wagging tail, for a meal related.
A man's life, full of woes and disease,
Hardships and troubles end in days like these.
Careful punishment, not by two sides' plea,
Strict laws hang by three chapters' decree.
Zou Yan, grieving, in Yan's jail confined,
Li Si, resentful, by Qin's shackles signed.
White hair shouldn't suddenly turn to thread,
Just for yellow sand dark as lead.
Purple Forbidden, hard to appeal,
Vermilion Gates, not easy to deal.
Startled soul hears leaves fall down,
Endangered spirit follows wheels to drown.
Frost's might far, severe and keen,
Snow's injustice leaves no step between.
With grievance, to whom can I say?
Swallowing anger, alone I stay.
Suddenly heard courier from east gate start,
Word of heaven's wave reaches every part.
Dried scale in rut returns to sea to roam,
Caged bird freed from net flies to sky's dome.
Shun's grace, Yao's sun have their extreme,
Slander and cunning words endless seem.
Who can crouch in three zones near the throne?
I'll visit Shang Mountain's four sages alone.