They say Chang'an
is like a chessboard
and what sad games they've played there
for more than a hundred years
the mansions and the palaces
have other owners now
new city servants and new soldiers
replace the former ones
but the gongs and drums still sound
beyond the mountain passes
wagons and horses heading west
messages marked with feathers
here in cold autumn waters
the fish and dragons sleep
I live in peace, remembering
my home in better times.