孟郊诗

Poems of Meng Jiao


Index

游终南山

Wandering Zhongnan Mountains


南山塞天地
日月石上生
高峰夜留景
深谷昼未明

Southern mountains, gates of Heaven and Earth.
Sun and moon rise from their rocks.
High peaks linger as night's landscape.
Deep valleys, by day, receive no light.

山中人自正
路险心亦平
长风驱松柏
声拂万壑清

In the mountains, one becomes upright.
Dangerous paths bring the heart peace.
Contant winds urge honesty and virtue.
Their sound sweeps a myriad valleys clean.

到此悔读书
朝朝近浮名

Up to now, I've resented study. Yet, every day,
My undeserved reputation grows nearer.

-- 孟郊


废话

I've said before that we underestimate Meng Jiao's popularity among the literary class. He doesn't write for the auditory audience of the people as Bai Juyi did. He writes the truth for a literate audience. And that audience holds him in esteem. My reading of this poem is that Meng Jiao is uncomfortable with this reputation, possibly because he has yet to find the voice he is looking for. Perhaps he is up in the Zhongnan mountains looking for it.


Index