孟郊诗

Poems of Meng Jiao


Index

上河阳李大夫

On the Riverbank with Minister Li


上将秉神略
至兵无猛威
三军当严冬
一抚胜重衣

The general discerns Heaven's plan
And troops arrive without bloodshed.
Three armies in a harsh winter and
All are comfortable in warm clothes.

霜剑夺众景
夜星失长辉
苍鹰独立时
恶鸟不敢飞

Swords freeze in the army's scabbards.
At night the stars are dim.
A goshawk long stands alone --
This fierce bird dare not fly.

武牢锁天关
河桥纽地机
大将奚以安
守此称者稀

The army's blocking Heaven's Gate.
A river bridge, the defense's key.
How can the general be at peace,
Guarding here what we call our hopes?

贫士少颜色
贵门多轻肥
试登山岳高
方见草木微

The poor scholars are all pale.
The wealthy hoard within their gates.
Try to climb the highest peaks and
Gaze down on green vastness.

山岳恩既广
草木心皆归

The peak's benevolence is already vast.
To natural vast greenness all hearts return.

-- 孟郊


废话

Minister Li may also be General Li. This is probably the case as Meng Jiao seems to be exhorting him here to humanity (仁). I should point out that the breaking up of Chinese poems into quatrains is somewhat artificial. The poets, especially in regulated poetry, think in quatrains. But in the scrolls, this would be on long series of vertically written lines going from right to left.


Index