孟浩然: 岁暮归南山/ meng haoran: on returning at the year's end to zhongnan mountain

岁暮归南山

孟浩然

北阙休上书， 南山归敝庐。

不才明主弃， 多病故人疏。

白发催年老， 青阳逼岁除。

永怀愁不寐， 松月夜窗墟。

　

on returning at the year's end to zhongnan mountain

meng haoran

i petition no more at the north palace-gate.

...to this tumble-down hut on zhongnan mountain

i was banished for my blunders, by a wise ruler.

i have been sick so long i see none of my friends.

my white hairs hasten my decline,

like pale beams ending the old year.

therefore i lie awake and ponder

on the pine-shadowed moonlight in my empty window.