孟郊诗
Poems of Meng Jiao
Index
忆江南弟
Remembering My Jiangnan Younger Brothers
白首眼垂血 望尔唯梦中 筋力强起时 魂魄犹在东 |
White-headed, red-eyed, I gaze upon you only in my dreams. My strength is still with me at times But my soul remains in the east. |
眼光寄明星 起来东望空 望空不见人 江海波无穷 |
Your eyes shine in the bright stars when I rise and gaze up at the eastern sky. Gazing in vain, I don't see any people -- Only rivers flowing endlessly to the sea |
衰老无气力 呼叫不成风 孑然忆忆言 落地何由通 |
Growing old, without inner strength. Hollering, from time to time, or Alone, remembering what was said, or Falling to the ground -- can you understand? |
常师共被教 竟作生离翁 生离不可诉 上天何曾聪 |
We were taught by the same master But in the end I'm an isolated old man. Isolation -- I can't talk about it. But dying? What good would that have been? |
未忍对松柏 自鞭残朽躬 自鞭亦何益 知教非所崇 |
I can't bear to face your honest virtue. So I punish this decaying rotten body. Punishing myself is also useless. You learn it never really lifts you up. |
努力拄杖来 馀活与尔同 不然死后耻 遗死亦有终 |
Working hard to walk with a cane now. Plenty of life left and my bonds with you. I won't be ashamed after I die. Leaving death behind is also an end. |
-- 孟郊
废话
This poem is certainly miscollated in the scrolls. It belongs near the end. Meng Jiao is remembering the young monks he studied with in middle age. It's a private poem, I think. And one that needs no help from me.