Pencheng is an ancient and strategic town
straddling a river that races a thousand miles
tall trees tower overhead
steep parapets wind around
neighborhoods fill with kitchen smoke at dusk
every plant and tree in the countryside is green
an ocean of water surges past the north wall
a lofty ridge rises beyond the south rampart
people here once loved life
so why have they run away
after years of drought and poor harvests
their unpaid taxes from hills
I've been in this prefecture more than a month
finally today I cleared up the mess
but acquaintances haven't come by for dinner
and I'm already bored with reports
worthies of the past rode a higher wind
I'm embarrassed to serve in a meaningless post
do I have to wait for warfare to end
before comforting widows and orphans