孟郊诗

Poems of Meng Jiao


Index

赠李观

For Li Guan


(观初登第)
(As he first passes his tests)

谁言形影亲
灯灭影去身
谁言鱼水欢
水竭鱼枯鳞

Who said body and shadow are inseparable?
Douse the lamp and the shadow goes away.
Who said fish enjoy the water?
Dry up the water and the fish shrivel away.

昔为同恨客
今为独笑人
舍予在泥辙
飘迹上云津

The ancients all hated the stranger.
Now we only laugh at men.
I leave off writing poems
To float up into cliffs of cloud.

卧木易成蠹
弃花难再春
何言对芳景
愁望极萧晨

Fallen trees will quickly rot.
Discarded flowers don't see another spring.
How can I write of a fragrant landscape
While sadly gazing at this desolate dawn?

埋剑谁识气
匣弦日生尘
愿君语高风
为余问苍旻

Who knows the spirit of a buried sword?
In its box, my qin gathers dust.
I want to speak of your noble character.
No one answers but the sky.

-- 孟郊


废话

I'm guessing this poem is miscollated in the scrolls. Li Guan was probably one of the people Meng Jiao shared winter hovels with as they struggle to pass the imperial exams. Now Li Guan has passed his and Meng Jiao hasn't and the two are parting ways.


Index