[updated September 2022]
Wounded Tang Qu
伤 唐 衢
忆 昨 元 和 初
忝 备 谏 官 位。
是 时 兵 革 后
生 民 正 樵 悴。
但 伤 民 病 痛
不 识 时 忌 讳。
遂 作 秦 中 吟
一 吟 悲 一 事。
贵 人 皆 怪 怒
闲 人 亦 非 訾。
天 高 未 及 闻
荆 棘 生 满 地。
唯 有 唐 衢 见
知 我 平 生 志。
一 读 兴 叹 嗟
再 吟 垂 涕 泗。
因 和 三 十 韵
手 题 远 缄 寄。
致 吾 陈 杜 间
赏 爱 非 常 意。
此 人 无 复 见
此 诗 尤 可 贵。
今 日 开 箧 看
蠹 鱼 损 文 字。
不 知 何 处 葬
欲 问 失 歔 欷。
终 去 哭 坟 前
还 君 一 掬 泪。
Shang Tang Qu
Yi zuo yuan he chu
Tian bei jian guan wei.
Shi shi bing ge hou
Sheng min zheng qiao cui.
Dan shang min bing tong
Bu zhi shi ji hui.
Sui zuo qin zhong yin
Yi yin bei yi shi.
Gui ren jie guai nu
Xiang ren yi fei zi.
Tian gao wei ji wen
Jing ji sheng man di.
Wei you tang qu jian
Zhi wo ping sheng zhi.
Yi du xing tan jie
Zai yin chui ti si.
Yin he san shi yun
Shou ti yuan jian ji.
Zhi wu chen du jian
Shang ai fei chang yi.
Ci ren wu fu jian
Ci shi you ke gui.
Jin ri kai qie kan
Du yu sun wen zi.
Bu zhi he shu zang
Yu wen shi xu xi.
Zhong qu ku fen qian
Huan jun yi ju lei.
Wounded Tang Qu
Yesterday recall the first year of the current reign
Our official ranks low and unworthy of honor.
The reign of Emperor Tangzong had chaos and civil war
Honest people emerged ill and emaciated.
These wounded people suffer sickness and pain
Time not enough to know what to abstain from.
I was satisfied to chant about my concerns
Each poem expresses one source of sorrow.
People of power were all very angry
Discreet lower level officials can talk without slander punishments.
Emperor is so high he is unable to hear these complaints
Thistles and thorns emerge from the palace lackeys.
Only Tang Qu can understand me
All our lives he knew of my inner ambitions.
Reading my poems, he also sighs with lament
Chant again and again, his tears streaming down.
Because of my thirty lines he wrote a reply
He personally wrote and sealed it before sending it to me.
It tells me we are like Chen Zhi’ang and Du Fu
His affection for me not often duplicated or revealed.
Cannot ever see the likes of him again
This poem of his remarkable and valued highly.
Today I opened his scroll box to see what was there
Book-eating moths have damaged his written words.
Not know where he was buried
Already asked of your location, exhaled slowly and cried.
Eventually I will stand and cry in front of your grave
Return to you with both hands holding my tears.
Notes:
Emperor Tangzong: (598-649) (r. 626-649) Second emperor of the Tang Dynasty. He and the first emperor, his father, were co-founders. He is considered as one of China’s best emperors.
Chen Zhi’ang: (656?-702) Instrumental in creating the Tang Dynasty poetic styles which included social satire and commentary. Followed by the poets Du Fu, Li Bai, Wang Wei, and of course Bai Juyi.