[updated September 2022]
A Brief Narration of Rising River Waters Like a Surging Ocean Power
江 上 值 水 如 海 势，聊 短 述
为 人 性 僻 躭 佳 句
语 不 惊 人 死 不 休！
老 去 诗 篇 浑 漫 与
春 来 花 鸟 莫 深 愁。
新 添 水 槛 供 垂 钩
故 著 浮 槎 替 入 舟。
焉 得 思 如 陶 谢 手
令 渠 述 作 与 同 游！
Jiang Shang Zhi Shui Ru Hai Shi Liao Duan Shu
Wei ren xing pi dan jia ju
Yu bu jing ren si bu xiu!
Lao qu shi pian hun man yu
Chun lai hua niao mo shen chou.
Xin tian shui kan gong chui gou
Gu zhu fu cha ti ru zhou.
Yan de si ru tao xie shou
Ling qu shu zuo yu tong you!
A Brief Narration of Rising River Waters Like a Surging Ocean Power
My eccentric temperament is to indulge in the making of excellent sentences
Write the most original possible before I die!
With old age the poems have all become more simple and natural
Spring arrives, do not feel for me, all of you birds and flowers.
With new rising river waters, better places for me to get my fishing line wet
Tie together a simple raft to replace the need for a boat.
Think of how Tao Yuanming crafted his masterpieces with a withered hand
Would let the likes of him live and travel together!
Notes:
Tao Yuanming: (365-427) Famous Jin Dynasty poet. His biographical information and translated poems can also be found on this website.