Written on My Way back from the Capital While Held Up by Wind in Guilin
庚子岁五月中从都还阻风于规林二首
On and on I go along the homeward way
And count the clays to reach where I used to stay
What a bliss to watch my mother's grace!
What a joy to see my brother's face!
行行循归路，计日望旧居。
一欣侍温颜，再喜见友于。
Along the bending river goes my boat;
The sun hangs low in western skies remote.
As treacherous are ways in hills and rills.
The route ahead has filled me with thrills.
鼓悼路崎曲，指景限西隅。
江山岂不险？归子念前涂。
Against my wish the southern winds arise;
Beside a backwoods lake my vessel lies.
The wild grass stretches far away from hence
While summer trees are growing tall and dense.
凯风负我心，戢楪守穷湖。
高莽眇无界，夏木独森疏。
From the boat my home isn't far to see;
It's but a little o'er a hundred li.
When I look where the southern mountains lie.
As I am held up here, I can't but sigh!
谁言客舟远？近瞻百里余。
延目识南岭，空叹将焉如！
Though royal service has been hard in sooth,
Not till now do I get to know the truth.
Look how the mountains rise and rivers swell;
The risks that travellers take are hard to tell.
自古叹行役，我今始知之。
山川一何旷，巽坎难与期。
The billows roar and rise up to the sky
While fierce winds blow as if they'll never die.
1 yearn to see my mother and my home,
Yet why should I be moored here in my roam?
崩浪贴天响，长风无息时。
久游恋所生，如何淹在兹。
On second thought, the best is rural life,
And so I must refrain from worldly strife.
Who knows how long I can be in my prime?
I'll live a free man from the earliest time!
静念园林好，人间良可辞。
当年诅有几？纵心复何疑！