柳宗元

溪居

久为簪组累， 幸此南夷谪。

闲依农圃邻， 偶似山林客。

晓耕翻露草， 夜榜响溪石，

来往不逢人， 长歌楚天碧。

Five-character-ancient-verse

Liu Zongyuan

DWELLING BY A STREAM

I had so long been troubled by official hat and robe

That I am glad to be an exile here in this wild southland.

I am a neighbour now of planters and reapers.

I am a guest of the mountains and woods.

I plough in the morning, turning dewy grasses,

And at evening tie my fisher-boat, breaking the quiet stream.

Back and forth I go, scarcely meeting anyone,

And sing a long poem and gaze at the blue sky.