<Header>
<Author: 韋應物>
<Title: 答崔都水>
<Format: 五言古詩>
<Year: 2009>
<BookName: In Such Hard Times: The Poetry of Wei Ying-wu>
<Translator: Pine, Red>
<TranslatedTitle: In Reply to Director Ts'ui>
<BookPage: 256-257>
<UsedPage: 2>
<Feature: 5>
<End Header>
<Poem>
亭亭心中人，
迢迢居秦關。
常緘素札去，
適枉華章還。
憶在灃郊時，
攜手望秋山。
久嫌官府勞，
初喜罷秩閒。
終年不事業，
寢食長慵頑。
不知爲時來，
名籍掛郎間。
攝衣辭田裏，
華簪耀頹顏。
卜居又依仁，
日夕正追攀。
牧人本無術，
命至苟復遷。
離念積歲序，
歸途眇山川。
郡齋有佳月，
園林含清泉。
同心不在宴，
樽酒徒盈前。
覽君陳跡遊，
詞意俱悽妍。
忽忽已終日，
將酬不能宣。
氓稅況重疊，
公門極熬煎。
責逋甘首免，
歲晏當歸田。
勿厭守窮轍，
慎爲名所牽。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
Man of my heart standing alone
beyond Ch'in Pass so far away
I've sent you my simple letters
your brocade response has arrived
recalling those Feng River days
arm in arm gazing at autumn hills
bored with government work
I was newly enamored of unemployed living
I did nothing productive all year
I slept and ate and couldn't have been lazier
so I don't know why it happened
my name was listed at court
I put on my robe and said goodbye to the farmers
my fancy hatpin lit up my sad face
I found a residence thanks to your kindness
I followed you around day and night
but a public servant without any skills
I was destined to be sent off again
thoughts of our separation increase with the season
I squint at the road  home over mountains and rivers
even with a beautiful moon above my quarters
and a transparent spring in the garden
my heart's companion doesn't share my pleasure
I fill the wine cup before me in vain
and read your account of our wanderings
your expressions so perfectly lovely
I've been in a daze all day
and lack the words to reply
taxes are heavier and more frequent
my office is completely overwhelmed
I reprimand debtors and forgive first offenders
and let them go home at year's end
don't complain that your prospects are poor
beware the temptation of fame
<End Translation>