赠卫八处士
For Reclusive Friend, Wei the Eighth
人生不相见，动如参与商。
Such bosom friends long forhopeless meeting,
As though Orion and Scorpioare settled not to see in destiny;
今夕复何夕，共此灯烛光！
How incredibly lucky I am tohave this opportunity,
By candlelight, to pour outmy feelings and stories buried in memory!
少壮能几时？鬓发各已苍！
How many glory days can wegrasp?
Threads of silver ran throughour hair at temples!
访旧半为鬼，惊呼热中肠。
Heard half of our friendspassed away already,
How can we stop weepinginconsolably!
焉知二十载，重上君子堂。
Who knows after twenty-yearsthen,
I can see your face again;
昔别君未婚，儿女忽成行。
When parting, unmarried asyou were,
Now you are settled down and havechildren in a row;
怡然敬父执，问我来何方？
Greeting their father’sfriend with polite smiles,
They ask me where I hail from;
问答未及已，儿女罗酒浆。
His children cut in on our talk,
When they serve good wine anddelicious meals;
夜雨剪春韭，新炊间黄粱。
We savor fresh green leekscut in the night rain,
And tasty millet rice justcooked with grain;
主称会面难，一举累十觞。
You sighed at the rareopportunity to meet,
Drank a dozen cups of wine ata stretch as a treat;
十觞亦不醉，感子故意长。
Ten cupful of wine won’tmake me drunk,
Yet deep friendship I feelfrom you makes me sunk;
明日隔山岳，世事两茫茫。
We will be separated by athousand miles tomorrow,
How can I break the parting sorrow?
For Reclusive Friend, Wei the Eighth
人生不相见，动如参与商。
Such bosom friends long forhopeless meeting,
As though Orion and Scorpioare settled not to see in destiny;
今夕复何夕，共此灯烛光！
How incredibly lucky I am tohave this opportunity,
By candlelight, to pour outmy feelings and stories buried in memory!
少壮能几时？鬓发各已苍！
How many glory days can wegrasp?
Threads of silver ran throughour hair at temples!
访旧半为鬼，惊呼热中肠。
Heard half of our friendspassed away already,
How can we stop weepinginconsolably!
焉知二十载，重上君子堂。
Who knows after twenty-yearsthen,
I can see your face again;
昔别君未婚，儿女忽成行。
When parting, unmarried asyou were,
Now you are settled down and havechildren in a row;
怡然敬父执，问我来何方？
Greeting their father’sfriend with polite smiles,
They ask me where I hail from;
问答未及已，儿女罗酒浆。
His children cut in on our talk,
When they serve good wine anddelicious meals;
夜雨剪春韭，新炊间黄粱。
We savor fresh green leekscut in the night rain,
And tasty millet rice justcooked with grain;
主称会面难，一举累十觞。
You sighed at the rareopportunity to meet,
Drank a dozen cups of wine ata stretch as a treat;
十觞亦不醉，感子故意长。
Ten cupful of wine won’tmake me drunk,
Yet deep friendship I feelfrom you makes me sunk;
明日隔山岳，世事两茫茫。
We will be separated by athousand miles tomorrow,
How can I break the parting sorrow?
