At twenty you brandished books and a pen
by thirty you exhausted the classics
then your appointment to the garrison arrived
and your name was heard through the land
at first you served at cavalry headquarters
now you're off to join the Whirlwind Army
cutting short our evening together
in such a great hurry to leave
a son traveling far from home
where rivers and roads part in the distance
looking down on Yen and Tai from the heights
where summer clouds rise morning and night
your governor possesses the best of forces
and has vowed to rid the stench from the nation
and my lucky friend holds the ax of a censor
perfect for assisting in a worthy service
but don't say you're busy with reports
and stop writing your friends