STUDY IN CHINA GLOBAL (SCG)Poetic Reply to Kong Langzhong,
Our Horses Can Meet in Jing Lin
和 孔 郎 中 荆 林 马 上 见 寄
秋 木 不 满 眼
宿 麦 种 亦 稀。
永 愧 此 邦 人。
芒 剌 在 肤 肌。
平 生 五 千 卷
一 字 不 救 饥。
方 将 怨 无 襦
忽 复 歌 缁 衣。
堂 堂 孔 北 海
直 气 凛 群 儿。
朱 轮 未 及 郊
清 风 已 先 驰。
何 以 累 君 子
十 万 贫 与 羸。
滔 滔 满 四 方
我 行 竟 安 之。
何 时 剑 关 路
春 山 闻 子 规。
He Kong Lang Zhong Jing Lin Ma Shang Jian Ji
Qiu mu bu man yan
Su mai zhong yi xi.
Yong kui ci bang ren
Mang la zai fu ji.
Ping sheng wu qian juan
Yi zi bu jiu ji.
Fang jiang yuan wu ru
Hu fu ge zi yi.
Tang tang kong bei hai
Zhi qi lin qun er.
Zhu lun wei ji jiao
Qing feng yi xian chi.
He yi lei jun zi
Shi wan pin yu lei
Tao tao man si fang
Wo xing jing an zhi.
He shi jian guan lu
Chun shan wen zi gui.
Poetic Reply to Kong Langzhong, Our Horses Can Meet in Jing Lin
Autumn grains do not fill the fields and eyes
Next year’s harvest will again be scarce.
All the time here felt shame for not helping more
Felt like thorns and stickers in my skin and muscles.
All my life I have read hundreds of scrolls
But not one word can rescue these starving people.
With winter approaching, resent not having enough winter clothes.
With your arrival they will sing songs again.
As a descendant of Kongzi, you are noble and bold
Your integrity soars above common people.
Your red government cart has yet to enter the area
Reading your message, they go out to meet you.
I now turn over to you the thousands living in poverty and want
In every direction anticipation of your administration.
I travel away, I feel calm and safe with you taking over
What season can I stop and cut the government strings
Go home to springtime mountains to hear the cuckoo birds and their young.
Notes:
Kongzi: The Chinese name for Confucius.
Commentary:
Su is leaving a government assignment, while his friend is replacing him. This line sounds a lot like our modern times: “But not one word can rescue these starving people.”
