[updated October 2022]
Starting to Arrive in This Prefecture
始 至 郡
湓 城 古 雄 镇
横 江 千 里 驰。
高 树 上 迢 递
峻 堞 绕 欹 危。
井 邑 烟 火 晚
郊 原 草 树 滋。
洪 流 荡 北 址
崇 岭 郁 南 圻。
斯 民 本 乐 生
逃 逝 竟 何 为？
早 岁 属 荒 歉
旧 逋 积 如 坻。
到 郡 方 逾 月
终 朝 理 乱 丝。
宾 朋 未 及 宴
简 牍 已 云 疲。
昔 贤 播 高 风
得 守 愧 无 施。
岂 待 干 戈 戢
且 愿 抚 惸 嫠。
Shi Zhi Jun
Pen cheng gu xiong zhen
Heng jiang qian li chi.
Gao shu shang tiao di
Jun die rao qi wei.
Jing yi yan huo wan
Jiao yuan cao shu zi.
Hong liu dang bei zhi
Chong ling yu nan qi.
Si min ben le sheng
Tao shi jing he wei?
Zao sui shu huang qian
Jiu bu ji ru chi.
Dao jun fang yu yue
Zhong zhao li luan si.
Bin peng wei ji yan
Jian du yi yun pi.
Xi xian bo gao feng
Dei shou kui wu shi.
Qi dai gan ge ji
Qie yuan fu qiong li.
Starting to Arrive in This Prefecture
Pen City an old and powerful garrison post
From the west to the east the Changjiang flows.
Trees so tall they are visible from many miles away
High and steep battlements beginning to lean dangerously.
Cross-hatched city streets, evening fires and smoke
Outside the city walls uncultivated plants and trees grow and multiply.
Powerful river currents edge the northern wall of the city
High and lofty mountain range to the southern border.
Originally the native people led happy lives
Wonder why so many felt the need to escape this place.
Last year’s drought was not mitigated
Old government debts have accumulated like a sandbar.
Over one month ago I left for this prefecture
All day long I have tried to make order out of the chaos of written records.
Yet to have the time to party with guests and friends
Clouds of written documents tires and weakens me.
Former days with those of virtuous integrity used to live here
Ashamed not to be able to adequately guard and protect their legacy.
Cannot wait until the fighting subsides
For a while can only comfort the lonely, orphaned and widowed.