Seventh Son Lives Nearby
示 子 遹
我 初 学 诗 日
但 欲 工 藻 绘。
中 年 始 少 悟
渐 若 窥 宏 大。
怪 奇 亦 间 出
如 石 漱 湍 濑。
数 仞 李 杜 墙
常 恨 欠 领 会。
元 白 才 倚 门
温 李 真 自 郐。
正 令 笔 扛 鼎
亦 未 造 三 昧。
诗 为 六 艺 一
岂 用 资 狡 狯？
汝 果 欲 学 诗
工 夫 在 诗 外。
Shi Zi Yu
Wo chu xue shi ri
Dan yu gong zao hui.
Zhong nian shi shao wu
Jian ruo kui hong da.
Guai qi yi jian chu
Ru shi shu tuan lai.
Shu ren li du qiang
Chang hen qian ling hui.
Yuan bai cai yi men
Wen li zhen zi kuai.
Zheng ling bi kang ding
Yi wei zao san mei.
Shi wei liu yi yi
Qi yong zi jiao kuai?
Ru guo yu xue shi
Gong fu zai shi wai.
Seventh Son Lives Nearby
When I began to daily study poetry
My only desire was to write with fancy literary adornments and paint.
In middle age I began to realize some spiritual truths
Small and simple lines can express what is grand and great.
This lead to poems both strange and unusual
Like river rocks rinsed and holed by the rapids.
But still behind an eight-foot wall were Li Bai and Du Fu masterpieces
Often regretted coming up short when compared to their main points.
I can barely see past the gate to the talents of Yuan Zhen and Bai Juyi
Hard to access the likes of Wun Tingjun and Li Shangyin.
Just one of their words can fill up a cooking pot that requires both hands to lift
Not yet obtained the language and consciousness of Buddha.
Poetry is just one skill among the Six
For now, should not the writing of poetry be more than a game?
Expect fruits and results when learning to write verses
Best poems come from outside books, and are found during leisure.
Notes:
All of the below are famous Tang Dynasty poets. Li Bai, Du Fu and Bai Juyi’s biographies and work can be also be found on this website.
Li Bai: (701-762)
Du Fu: (712-770)
Yuan Zhen: (779-831)
Bai Juyi: (772-846)
Wen Tingjun: (812-866)
Li Shangyin: (ca. 813-858)
The Six skills: Poetry, literature, the Yi Jing, Confucius rites, music, and the Annuls of Spring and Autumn.