孟郊诗
Poems of Meng Jiao
Index
献汉南樊尚书
Presented to the Han Governor of the Southern Region
|
天下昔崩乱 大君识贤臣 众木尽摇落 始见竹色真 |
In former times, all under Heaven fell apart. But lords knew which ministers were worthy. When all leaves were shaken from the trees, Men's true characters were revealed. |
|
兵势走山岳 阳光潜埃尘 心开玄女符 面缚清波人 |
Armies marched high into the mountains, Obscuring the sunlight with their dust. With minds opened by the goddess' power, They subdued the invading hordes. |
|
异俗既从化 浇风亦归淳 自公理斯郡 寒谷皆变春 |
Things have changed from then to now -- Fair manners and simplicity return. Your Lordship governs his province so that Chill valleys all return to spring. |
|
旗影卷赤电 剑锋匣青鳞 如何嵩高气 作镇楚水滨 |
Now war banners unfurl like red lightning. Sword edges flash from bright scabbards. What if the highest of spirits were to Garrison the banks of Chu's rivers? |
|
云镜忽开霁 孤光射无垠 乃知寻常鉴 照影不照神 |
Overcast clouds suddenly part and A single sunbeam shines out from afar. One knows the old saying: Mere suspicions do not reveal the truth. |
-- 孟郊
废话
I have the sense that this is a semi-official poem which was sent to this governor. Perhaps Meng Jiao's superiors sent orders to the governor and wished, through Meng Jiao's poetry, to send an additional subtle message of some kind. Meng Jiao's preferential treatment throughout his official career shows that his poetry was esteemed by the ruling class. It might even have been flattering to see that your superiors wrapped their concerns in the form of a famous poet's work, written especially for you. You might even hang it up where others could envy it.