SEEING LUO ZHANGLONG OFF TO JAPAN

1916

The clouds have lifted from Mount Heng, their long rains ceased;
Sky-horse and phoenix soar in spring trees.
Young and brilliant as Qu Yuan and Jia Yi,
Here the spirits of mountains gathered.
I sing aloud to see you off,
Like the roc you beat the water and start on your way.
The Dongting Lake swells to the sky,
A giant battleship points east.
Melancholy has spread for no reason,
Happily the east wind blows it away.
Why should a man take anything to heart?
He should see the universe as but a grain.
How can we worry about the world in turmoil?
Leave the tangled world to you to put in order.
Keep your body and mind in hand,
Your heart will always be fresh and beautiful.
Five hundred years have passed since a great man was born,
All the princes are now mediocrities.
Before the Palace of Calm Waves we have many friends,
Chongming and Tsushima are separated by a mere strip of water.
When you go to Japan to sharpen your sword, write to me;
I shall return from the cliff when you are gone.