和子由渑池怀旧

宋代：苏轼

 

人生到处知何似，应似飞鸿踏雪泥。

泥上偶然留指爪，鸿飞那复计东西。

 

老僧已死成新塔，坏壁无由见旧题。

往日崎岖还记否，路长人困蹇驴嘶。

 

 

In Response to Ziyou’s Nostalgic Poem

Su Shi of the Song Dynasty

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How does a toiling person spend their life?

Just like the swan goose, stopping on deep snow.

 

The bird may leave a footprint where it stood

Before it flies away and it forgets.

 

Ashes of the dead monk in the tower;

my poem lost along with broken walls.

 

For the emperor’s examination,

we travelled so hard, our lame mule collapsed.

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(Translated with Wesley Deng)
Published in Acumen 105

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