[updated September 2022]
Propose a Toast to My Friend Yuan the Ninth, Who Planted Fresh Fast-Growing Bamboo
酬 元 九 对 新 栽 竹 有 怀 见 寄
昔 我 十 年 前
曾 将 秋 竹 竽。
比 君 孤 且 直。
中 心 一 以 合
外 事 纷 无 极。
与 君 始 相 识。
共 保 秋 竹 心
风 霜 侵 不 得。
始 嫌 梧 桐 树
秋 至 先 改 色。
不 爱 杨 柳 枝
春 来 软 无 力。
怜 君 别 我 后
见 竹 长 相 忆。
常 欲 在 眼 前
故 栽 庭 户 侧。
分 首 今 何 外？
君 南 我 在 北。
吟 我 赠 君 诗
对 之 心 恻 恻。
Chou Yuan Jiu Dui Xin Zai Zhu You Huai Jian Ji
Xi wo shi nian qian
Ceng jiang qiu zhu gan.
Bi jun gu qie zhi.
Zhong xin yi yi he
Wai shi fen wu ji.
Yu jun shi xiang shi.
Gong bao qiu zhu xin
Feng shuang qin bu de.
Shi xian wu tong shu
Qiu zhi xian gai se.
Bu ai yang liu zhi
Chun lai ruan wu li.
Lian jun bie wo hou
Jian zhu chang xiang yi.
Chang yu zai yan qian
Gu zai ting hu ce.
Fen shou jin he chu?
Jun nan wo zai bei.
Yin wo zeng jun shi
Dui zhi xin ce ce.
Propose a Toast to My Friend Yuan the Ninth, Who Planted Fresh Fast-Growing Bamboo
Ten years ago you and I met
We began to enjoy each other’s company.
You were like freshly cut autumn bamboo poles
For now your temperament resembles these posts.
Joined as one, our loyalty to each other
None of the many and various outside things can bother us.
We cherish and protect our heart-minds like the autumn bamboo without sweet sprouts
Through winds and frost we remain the same.
We began to suspect the parasol and paulownia trees
These are the first trees to change the color of their leaves.
No love for the poplar and willow tree branches
When spring arrives, they remain soft and gentle without power.
Poor you, you were sent away to Hubei
For a long time we remember our bamboo and our friendship.
Wish we could often see each other
The reason you grew some bamboo next to your door in the front courtyard.
Separated, are we really separated?
You in the south, I am in the north
Sent as a gift, I chant your poems
Very sad and sincere, our heart-minds facing each other.