张九龄

感遇其四

江南有丹橘， 经冬犹绿林；

岂伊地气暖？ 自有岁寒心。

可以荐嘉客， 奈何阻重深？

运命惟所遇， 循环不可寻。

徒言树桃李， 此木岂无阴？

Five-character-ancient-verse

Zhang Jiuling

ORCHID AND ORANGE II

Here, south of the Yangzi, grows a red orangetree.

All winter long its leaves are green,

Not because of a warmer soil,

But because its' nature is used to the cold.

Though it might serve your honourable guests,

You leave it here, far below mountain and river.

Circumstance governs destiny.

Cause and effect are an infinite cycle.

You plant your peach-trees and your plums,

You forget the shade from this other tree.