孟郊诗

Poems of Meng Jiao


Index

叹命

Sighing at My Fate


三十年来命
唯藏一卦中
题诗还问易
问易蒙复蒙

After thirty years of life,
I need the release of a single divination.
Inscribing this poem, I ask the Yijing,
Why one senseless thing after another?

本望文字达
今因文字穷
影孤别离月
衣破道路风

Originally, I looked to writing for success.
Today, I realize my writing is too weak.
My lonely shadow takes leave of the moon as
I shed my clothes and wander the Way.

归去不自息
耕耘成楚农

I never think of going back but
Plow and weed like a good Chu peasant.

-- 孟郊


废话

Okay, Chu again. "Plow and weed" (耕耘) also means to work and study diligently. And our confessed Buddhist again expresses himself as a good Daoist. The "inscribing this poem" (题诗) means he probably wrote this on a wall somewhere but kept a copy for himself. A public poem is this, for anyone to read.


Index