Reading “Mountains and Seas Stories” : Thirteen Poems: No. 12
读 “山 海 经”： 十 三 首
鸱 鴸 见 城 邑
其 国 有 放 士。
念 彼 怀 王 世
当 时 数 来 止。
青 丘 有 奇 鸟
自 言 独 见 尔。
本 为 迷 者 生
不 以 喻 君 子。
Du “Shan Hai Jing“: Shi San Shou
(12)
Chi zhu jian cheng yi
Qi guo you fang shi.
Nian bi huai wang shi
Dang shi shu lai zhi.
Qing qiu you qi niao
Zi yan du jian er.
Ben wei mi zhe sheng
Bu yi yu jun zi.
Reading “Mountains and Seas Stories” : Thirteen Poems: No. 12
Sparrow hawks seen on a city wall
Means the country has exiled their intellectuals.
Thinking of these heart-minds, the best of their generation
At this time many of these birds stop here.
Qingqiu Mountain has extraordinary birds
They will say who you can trust.
Having once been human, they understand me
But I already know men of noble character do no require their advice.
Notes:
Qing Qiu Mountain : Ancient home of a mythological being that resembles a nine-tailed fox. He and other strange beasts seduce men, and then controls them after shape-shifting into a beautiful woman.