Again See the Fishermen on the Shili Levees
再 观 十 里 塘 捕 鱼 有 叹
渔 者 都 星 散
那 知 不 是 真。
忽 然 重 举 网
何 许 有 逃 鳞。
暗 漉 泥 中 玉
光 跳 日 下 银。
江 湖 无 避 处
而 况 野 塘 滨。
Zai Guan Shi Li Tang Bu Fu You Tan
Yu zhe du sing san
Na zhi bu shi zhen.
Hu ran chong ju wang
He xu you tao lin.
An lu ni zhong yu
Guang tiao ri xia yin.
Jiang hu wu bi chu
Er kuang ye tang bin.
Again See the Fishermen o n the Shili Levees
Fishermen left behind scattered pieces of food
Fish have yet to realize this food is not for them.
Suddenly the fishing net is pulled up
How can these scales of fish even hope to escape.
After the wet mud drops away, the fish shimmer like jade
Hauled onto land, sunlight turns their scales to silver.
Those dwelling around rivers and lakes can do the same
Such is the situation for caught fish along the levee water’s edge.
Notes:
Extended interpretation: The fish are some of the palace people.
I notice also a connection of this poem to the poem “Purse Seine”, by Robinson Jeffers