Bandit armies rose in the mountains to the east
giving our heroic men no rest
I heard you recently answered the call
the news of which stirred the capital
born into the world of letters
with attainments beyond others' reach
you didn't take off your blue robe
before hanging white feathers at your waist
you looked like a tree of jade in the past
you must be well weathered by now
down narrow lanes in the fall countryside
racing your horse to get back by dark
a true man fights for his country
knocks down mountains to defeat its foes
why must I serve as a magistrate
watching my hair turn white in vain