<Header>
<Author: 劉長卿>
<Title: 江州重別薛六柳八二員外>
<Format: 七律>
<Year: 2009>
<BookName: Three Hundred TANG POEMS>
<Translator: Harris, Peter>
<TranslatedTitle: Saying goodbye again in Jiangzhon to Supernumerary Secretaries Xue the Sixth and Liu the Eighth>
<BookPage: 173>
<UsedPage: 1>
<Feature: 1>
<End Header>
<Poem>
生涯豈料承優詔？
世事空知學醉歌。
江上月明胡雁過，
淮南木落楚山多。
寄身且喜滄洲近，
顧影無如白髮何！
今日龍鍾人共棄，
愧君猶遣慎風波。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
In life I’d never have thought there would be
an edict in my favour –
There’s no way of knowing the ways of the world –
learn drinking songs instead!
The moon shines brightly over the river
as Tartar geese fly by;
South of the Huai beyond the bare trees
are the many mountains of Chu.
I’m pleased the place I’ve been assigned to
is on a green river bank.
I take a look at my reflection –
white hair, but what can I do?
Nowadays we are feeble and tottering,
all of us growing old;
I thank you, sirs, for alerting me still
to the wind-swept waves ahead.
<End Translation>
<Formatted Translation>
In life I’d never have thought there would be an edict in my favour –
There’s no way of knowing the ways of the world – learn drinking songs instead!
The moon shines brightly over the river as Tartar geese fly by;
South of the Huai beyond the bare trees are the many mountains of Chu.
I’m pleased the place I’ve been assigned to is on a green river bank.
I take a look at my reflection – white hair, but what can I do?
Nowadays we are feeble and tottering, all of us growing old;
I thank you, sirs, for alerting me still to the wind-swept waves ahead.
<End Formatted Translation>