A Leisured Life on the Double Ninth
九日闲居
Now that I am living a leisured life, I love the name of the Double Ninth.When autumn chrysanthemums flourish in my garden, I have no wine to drink. In face of the flowers, I write this verse to vent my feelings.
余闲爱重九之名，秋菊盈园，而持醪靡由，空服九华，寄怀于言。
Man’s life is short and full of cares and strife,
Yet man still yearns to live a long, long life.
The Double Ninth arrives in its due time,
A festive name that is praised as sublime.
世短意常多，斯人乐久生。
日月依辰至，举俗爱其名。
Amid the heavy dews the days are clean,
The air is fresh, the sky remains serene.
The south-bound swallows have already gone by
While songs of wild geese echo in the sky.
露凄暄风息，气澈天象明。
往燕无遗影，来雁有馀声。
The wine relieves me of many a care;
Chrysanthemums give me years to spare.
How can I，a wretched scholar, stand alone
And let the time flow forward on its own!
酒能祛百虑，菊解制颓龄。
如何蓬庐士，空视时运倾！
When dusty goblets lie before an empty jar,
Chrysanthemums bloom in vain as they are.
As I calm down and write an idle song,
My flying thoughts have roused feelings strong.
尘爵耻虚壘，寒华徒自荣；
敛襟独闲谣，缅焉起深情。
Such mighty joy the leisured days provide
That I've achieved a lot where I reside!
栖迟固多娱，淹留岂无成。