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.