And Yan Governor Nanmu's Poem by Yang Yuzhong
Two towering cliffs stand in response,
With a coiling dragon carved on the top.
Bronze serves as the trunk, stone as the root,
Covered with ancient inscriptions and moss marks.
The twists and turns of the branches are few,
Deeply locked in the mist and rain of the remote mountains.
Unwilling to be used as materials to harm cattle,
The astonishing literature is not meant to be revealed.
People are not satisfied even after a hundred years,
A lifetime of worries and sorrows.
Zhanbei follows the old and middle-aged to wander,
This tree is lush in both spring and autumn.
The ink of Duling shines brightly and grandly,
Regretting not being able to appreciate it in its prime.
A solitary poem sent on the 9th day of the yellow flowers,
The sound reverberates among the clouds.
Translation:
This poem, titled "And Yan Governor Nanmu's Poem" by Yang Yuzhong, depicts a majestic scene of two towering cliffs facing each other. On the top of the cliffs, there is a coiling dragon carved into the rock. The trunk of the tree is made of bronze, with the roots made of stone. The tree is covered in ancient inscriptions and moss marks. The branches are intricately twined and lack straightness, deeply hidden in the mist and rain of the remote mountains. The poet expresses his unwillingness to have his literary talent be used for trivial matters, as his astonishing writings are not meant to be revealed casually. He reflects on the transience of life, with people never being satisfied and enduring a lifetime of worries and sorrows. The poet envies those who can freely wander and explore, lamenting that he could not fully appreciate the grandeur of Duling's ink in its prime. The final couplet refers to a poem sent on the 9th day of the yellow flowers, indicating that the poet's words, like the sound of a harp, echo among the clouds.
This poem showcases the poet's admiration for the natural wonders and his yearning for artistic excellence. The majestic image of the cliffs and the symbolism of the dragon and the ancient inscriptions represent the enduring beauty and wisdom of nature. The poet's lament over not being able to fully express his literary talents adds a touch of melancholy to the poem, reflecting the common human experience of unfulfilled potential. Overall, the poem inspires awe and contemplation of the grandeur of nature and the fleetingness of human accomplishments.
