孟郊诗

Poems of Meng Jiao


Index

上昭成阁不得于从侄僧悟空院叹嗟

Unable to find light in meditation, my nephew (the monk) and I go into Realization of Emptiness Hall and sigh


欲上千级阁
问天三四言
未尺数十登
心目风浪翻

I wanted to climb to the thousand-staired balcony
And ask Heaven three or four things.
I made it no further than about ten steps, when
In my mind's eye, sky and sea were upended.

手手把惊魄
脚脚踏坠魂
却流至旧手
傍掣犹欲奔

Hands, hands grasped my startled soul.
Feet, feet trod down my spirit.
In this flow, old hands dragging me back,
I still wanted to go on.

老病但自悲
古蠹木万痕
老力安可夸
秋海萍一根

Old sickness still makes me sad and
Ancient beetles have scarred up this old trunk.
Old strength can almost boast of rest
As duckweed gathers on the autumn sea.

孤叟何所归
昼眼如黄昏
常恐失好步
入彼市井门

To where can a lone old man return
When all the daylight looks like dusk?
I'm half afraid I'll lose my way
And wander out these city gates.

结僧为亲情
策竹为子孙
此诚徒切切
此意空存存

With these monks, I have a family.
This bamboo staff is like a grandson.
These truths are a kind of sad vanity
And these thoughts a living emptiness.

一寸地上语
高天何由闻

One inch of words upon the ground.
How could high Heaven hear them?

-- 孟郊


废话

I bow three times to this poem and its poet.


Index