Recall Past Travels to Xiangyang, Give As a Gift to Ju Ma, Petty Government Official in Jiyin
忆 襄 阳 旧 游 赠 济 阴 马 少 府 巨
昔 为 大 堤 客
曾 上 山 公 楼。
开 窗 碧 嶂 满
拂 镜 沧 江 流。
高 冠 佩 雄 剑
长 揖 韩 荆 州。
此 地 别 夫 子
今 来 思 旧 游。
朱 颜 君 未 老
白 发 我 先 秋。
壮 志 恐 磋 砣
功 名 若 云 浮。
归 心 结 远 梦
落 日 悬 春 愁。
空 思 羊 叔 子
堕 泪 岘 山 头。
Yi Xiang Yang Jiu You Zeng Ji Yin Ma Shao Fu Ju
Xi wei da di ke
Ceng shang shan gong lou.
Kai chuang bi zhang man
Fu jing cang jiang liu.
Gao guan pei xiong jian
Chang yi han jing zhou.
Ci di bie fu zi
Jin lai si jiu you.
Zhu yan jun wei lao
Bai fa wo xian qiu
Zhuang zhi kong cuo tuo
Gong ming ruo yun fu.
Gui xin jie yuan meng
Luo ri xuan chun chou.
Kong si yang shu zi
Duo lei xian shan tou.
Recall Past Travels to Xiangyang, Give As a Gift to Ju Ma,
Petty Government Official in Jiyin
In the past we were big levee visitors
Once up on the Shangong tower.
Through an open window bluish-green mountain after mountain
Dark blue section of the river flows like a mirror.
Those with tall hats and powerful swords at their waists
Mayor Han of Jingzhou with clasped hands, but did not bow to him.
This was the place where we last departed
Now we arrive thinking of past travels.
Your peaches and cream complexion reveals you are not old
My white hair shows me in early autumn.
We had splendid ambitions, but I am afraid we just wasted our time
Scholarly honor and official rank like fleeing clouds.
For a long time we dreamed and wished to return home
Sunset, hanging springtime sorrows.
Only can think of Yang Shuzi
Falling tears, his stele inside Mt. Xian.
Notes:
Xiangyang: City in northwest Hubei Province. The Han River runs through it, and has been the site of several historical and major battles.
Jiyin: A city in Shangdong Province, where Li Bai sent this poem to a friend.
Shangong Tower: Famous building in the city of Xiangyang, built during the Jin Dynasty.
Jingzhou: One of the nine provinces of ancient China.
Yang Shuzi: Mayor of Xiangyang at this time.
Mt. Xian: Located in the Zhongxian mountains in Hubei Province.