孟郊诗

Poems of Meng Jiao


Index

汝州南潭陪陆中丞公宴

Ru Prefecture, South Pool, accompanying Lu Zhongcheng to a banquet


一雨百泉涨
南潭夜来深
分明碧沙底
写出青天心

Heavy rain, a hundred springs rise.
South Pool, heavy darkness falls.
Can still see its jade sand bottom.
Writing comes as heart reflects Heaven.

远客洞庭至
因兹涤烦襟
既登飞云舫
愿奏清风琴

Distant guests come to Dongting Lakes
Because they sooth the troubled hearts.
Everyone's aboard the flying cloud boats.
I wish I could do this justice on my qin.

高岸立旗戟
潜蛟失浮沉
威棱护斯浸
魍魉逃所侵

On the cliffs, war banners fly and
Hidden dragons float, unnoticed, in the deeps.
Power and influence guard these depths.
Here old demons escape pursuit.

山态变初霁
水声流新音
耳目极眺听
潺湲与嶔岑

Mountain's aspect changes as rain clears.
River begins to flow in a new voice.
Senses strain into the distance --
Slowly flowing and rising up.

谁言柳太守
空有白蘋吟

Who says Commandant Liu
Couldn't sing of white duckweed?

-- 孟郊


废话

A few notes. Flying cloud boats are party barges -- big, floating platforms for heavy drinking. Meng Jiao's reference to his qin, the musical instrument of gentleman, increases my belief that poetry was often sung aloud, especially on occasions like this. He probably is singing this poem here on South Pool. I'm pretty sure South Pool is simply one of the Dongting Lakes. This is a political gathering. So I think that the third verse is Meng Jiao commenting on the guests and the current political situation. And the final couplet seems to indicate this poem is being sung for the banqueters. It appears to be some kind of in-joke. Commanderies were the large military commands, five during the Tang, which kept the empire together. After Meng Jiao's time, commandants would often rebel and proclaim themselves emperor. Duckweed is a symbol for wanderers. I have no idea what "white duckweed" symbolizes.


Index