March, Year of the Snake (405 AD): Received Orders to Assist General Jianwei and Return to the Capital By Way of the Qianxi River
乙 巳 岁 三 月： 为 建 威 参 军 使 都 经 钱 溪
我 不 践 斯 境
岁 月 好 已 积。
晨 夕 看 山 川
事 事 悉 如 昔。
微 雨 洗 高 林
清 飚 矫 云 翮。
眷 彼 品 物 存
义 风 都 未 隔。
伊 余 何 为 者
勉 励 从 兹 役？
一 形 似 有 制
素 襟 不 可 易！
园 田 日 梦 想
安 得 久 离 析？
终 怀 在 归 舟
谅 哉 宜 霜 柏。
Yi Si Sui San Yue: Wei Jian Wei Can Jun Shi Du Jing Qian Xi
Wo bu jian si jing
Sui yue hao yi ji.
Chen xi kan shan chuan
Shi shi xi ru xi.
Wei you xi gao lin
Qing biao jiao yun he.
Juan bi pin wu cun
Yi feng dou wei ge.
Yi you he wei zhe
Mian li cong zi yi ?
Yi xing si you zhi
Su jin bu ke yi !
Yuan tian ri meng xiang
An dei jiu li xi ?
Zhong huai zai gui zhou
Liang zai yi shuang bai.
March, Year of the Snake (405AD): Received Orders to Assist General Jianwei and Return to the Capital By Way of the Qianxi River
[Tao Yuanming was recalled to the capital and the Imperial Palace. Even after Linyu was killed and the emperor reinstalled, there are many bad people in the palace.]
Have not been to this border area
For many years, do not remember exactly.
From morning to sunset see mountains and rivers
Everything looks just like before.
Light rains clean the tall forests
Clear and strong winds, feathers fly strongly among the clouds.
Everything follows its’ own nature
Now the winds of change and loyalty blow back.
Why after all that has happened
Should I spend so much energy to take on this new work?
My body seems like it is being constrained
My frame of mind for simplicity not able to change.
Still dream and long for the day I can return to my vegetable garden life
How can I be away from this peaceful lifestyle?
In the end, still thinking of my boat journey back home
Till then I expect to be steadfast like the frosty cedar trees.
Notes:
Qianxi River: Located in Guizhou Province.