[updated September 2022]
Various Poems: Twelve Poems: No. 1
杂 诗 ： 十 二 首
(1)
人 生 无 根 蒂
飘 如 陌 上 尘。
分 散 逐 风 转
此 已 非 常 身。
落 地 为 兄 弟
何 必 骨 肉 亲。
得 欢 当 作 乐
斗 酒 聚 比 邻。
盛 年 不 重 来
一 日 难 再 晨。
及 时 当 勉 励
岁 月 不 待 人。
Za Shi: Shi Er Shou
(1)
Ren sheng wu gen di
Piao ru mo shang chen.
Fen san zhu feng zhuan
Ci yi fei chang shen.
Luo di wei xiong di
He bi gu rou qin.
De huan dang zuo le
Dou jiu ju bi lin.
Sheng nian bu chong lai
Yi ri nan zai chen.
Ji shi dang mian li
Sui yue bu dai ren.
Various Poems: Twelve Poems: No. 1
People’s lives without roots or calyxes
Flutter about like dust from a footpath.
Wind shifts, dust scatters and disperses
When it stops, a common life becomes uncommon.
Falling to the ground, everyone should be like a brother
Why not love those who are not your relatives.
To obtain happiness, one should make happiness
Gather the neighbors around for a jug of wine.
Prosperous years do not repeat
Once a day the morning arrives, no more after that.
In time we should encourage ourselves
Years pass by and wait for no one.
Commentary:
The overriding theme of these twelve poems is the passage of time, the transitory nature of nature, and the personal challenges of aging.