To Cao Biao,Prince of Baima
- Poetry of Cao Zhi

黄初四年五月，白马王、任城王与余俱朝京师、会节气。到洛阳，任城王薨。至七月，与白马王还国。后有司以二王归藩，道路宜异宿止，意毒恨之。盖以大别在数日，是用自剖，与王辞焉，愤而成篇。

谒帝承明庐，逝将归旧疆。

清晨发皇邑，日夕过首阳。

伊洛广且深，欲济川无梁。

泛舟越洪涛，怨彼东路长。

顾瞻恋城阙，引领情内伤。

太谷何寥廓，山树郁苍苍。

霖雨泥我涂，流潦浩纵横。

中逵绝无轨，改辙登高岗。

修坂造云日，我马玄以黄。

玄黄犹能进，我思郁以纡。

郁纡将何念，亲爱在离居。

本图相与偕，中更不克俱。

鸱枭鸣衡轭，豺狼当路衢。

苍蝇间白黑，谗巧令亲疏。

欲还绝无蹊，揽辔止踟蹰。

踟蹰亦何留？相思无终极。

秋风发微凉，寒蝉鸣我侧。

原野何萧条，白日忽西匿。

归鸟赴乔林，翩翩厉羽翼。

孤兽走索群，衔草不遑食。

感物伤我怀，抚心长太息。

太息将何为，天命与我违。

奈何念同生，一往形不归。

孤魂翔故域，灵柩寄京师。

存者忽复过，亡殁身自衰。

人生处一世，去若朝露晞。

年在桑榆间，影响不能追。

自顾非金石，咄唶令心悲。

心悲动我神，弃置莫复陈。

丈夫志四海，万里犹比邻。

恩爱苟不亏，在远分日亲。

何必同衾帱，然后展慇懃。

忧思成疾疢，无乃儿女仁。

仓卒骨肉情，能不怀苦辛？

苦辛何虑思，天命信可疑。

虚无求列仙，松子久吾欺。

变故在斯须，百年谁能持？

离别永无会，执手将何时？

王其爱玉体，俱享黄髪期。

收泪即长路，援笔从此辞。

In May 223,Prince of Baima,Prince of Rencheng and I went to the capital to attend the seasonal sacrificial rites.When we reached Luoyang, Prince of Rencheng(Cao Zhang)passed away.In July,Prince of Baima and I were ready to go together on our journey to our respective feoffs. However,the royal missionary said that it is proper for us to go sepa-rately.I hated the idea very much because our lifelong separation would come in a few days.Hence,I presented the following poem to Prince of Baima to emit my feelings of indignation.

After seeing the king on the audience day,

To my feoff I'll soon be on my way.

At dawn I leave the capital,Luoyang;

At dusk,I reach the foot of Mount Shouyang. 

The rivers Yi and Luo are deep and wide,

But there's no bridge to go from side to side.

When I brave the torrents in my ship,

I hate to go upon my eastward trip.

When I look back at the capital on my horse,

I gaze and gaze in deep grief and remorse.

How deep and vast has been the valley Tai!

How verdant mountain trees attract my eye!

While heavy downpour muddles mountain paths,

The swollen rivers flood in angry wraths.

When the road is damaged by the flood,

I change the route and climb the mount in mud.

Going up the slopes that reach the sky,

My horse is tired that it might even die.

Tired as it is,my horse can still push on,

But I'm absorbed in grief that won't be gone.

For what reason should I sigh and grieve?

My bosom kinsman I'm compelled to leave.

Although we'd like to go back side by side,

We have to take a separate long ride.

Kites and owls are screeching on the yoke;

Jackals and wolves are howling to the folk.

The mean and base are changing black to white;

Glib talk and lies are turning wrong to right.

To go back,there's no way of any kind;

With reins in hand,I stop and look behind.

I stop and look behind but cannot stay;

Yet thoughts of you are lingering on the way.

I feel the chill of autumn winds that groan;

I hear the cold cicadas weep and moan. 

When I look upon wildness so unblest,

The pallid sun descends into the west.

A bird returning home among the trees 

Flaps its spreading wings in the breeze.

A stray beast seeking its crowd north and south 

Forgets to eat the grass within its mouth.

Saddened by the sights revealed to me,

I heave a long,long sigh at what I see.

Why on earth should I heave such a sigh?

Heaven rails against me,why,oh why!

Born and brought up by the same dear mother,

Dead and gone is Cao Zhang,my poor brother!

While his solitary soul hovers o'er his feoff,

His body lies in Luoyang blind and deaf.

The living,with too short a span of time,

Will turn to dust without reason or rhyme.

A man's sojourn on earth so swiftly flies,

Like morning dew that shrinks and dries.

My life is drawing to its close unstained,

Like shades and sounds that cannot be detained.

My life would differ from metal or stone;

This very thought makes me sigh and moan.

Since this sad thought makes me sigh and moan,

I'll keep it as a sorrow of my own.

A man of broad and open mind aims high;

Ten thousand miles would seem to be close by.

If love and friendship do indeed hold sway,

The distance brings us closer with each day.

Why must we sleep together all the time 

Before we show our deep concerns sublime?

Deep concerns that cause disease in life 

Are merely love between the man and wife.

However,when on different ways we go,

How can I refrain from pain and woe?

What am I thinking of in pain and woe?

I'll never trust what heavens shall bestow!

To search for the immortals is in vain;

To trust the fictional Songzi is insane.

Since mishap comes without rhyme or reason,

Who can live out his allotted season?

Never more shall we meet one another;

When can I hold the hands of my brother?

Prince,do take good care to guard your health 

So that we'll have long lives,the greatest wealth.

Alas,I'll wipe my tears and go my way;

Pen in hand,I must leave you today.