[updated September 2022]
Double Nine Days Climb Up Mt. Batai
九 日 登 巴 台
黍 香 酒 初 熟
菊 暖 花 未 开。
闲 听 竹 枝 曲
浅 酌 茱 萸 杯。
去 年 重 阳 日
漂 泊 湓 城 隈。
今 岁 重 阳 日
萧 条 巴 子 台。
旅 鬓 寻 已 白
乡 书 久 不 来。
临 觞 一 搔 首
座 客 亦 徘 徊。
Jiu Ri Deng Ba Tai
Shu xiang jiu chu shu
Ju nuan hua wei kai.
Xian ting zhu zhi qu
Qian zhuo zhu yu bei.
Qu nian cong yang ri
Piao bo pen cheng wei.
Jin sui chong yang ri
Xiao tiao ba zi tai.
Lu bin xun yi bai
Xiang shu jiu bu lai.
Lin shang yi sao shou
Zuo ke yi pai huai.
Double Nine Days Climb Up Mt. Batai
Fragrant broom-corn millet wine begins to age
Chrysanthemum blossoms warm up, but have yet to open.
Leisurely listen to the local music called bent bamboo branches
Small cups of cornel fruit wine poured out.
Last year also had sunny days
Wanderers drift aimlessly around the Pencheng riverbends.
This year also the same sunny days
Desolate and bleak Mt. Batai.
Journeys promote the slow whitening of hair
For a long time hometown letters have not arrived.
Wine drinking games, scratch one’s head
Seated visitors also have come to pace back and forth with sorrows.
Notes:
Double-Nine Days: The Mid-Autumn festivals and celebrations.
Mt. Batai: Located in Sichuan Province.
Pencheng: Ancient name of the capital of Chu during the Western Han Dynasty. Modern day name is Xuzhou, which is a major city in northeast Jiangsu Province.