尋西山隱者不遇 邱為

尋西山隱者不遇     邱為(唐)

絕頂一茅茨，直上三十里。叩關無僮僕，窺室惟案几。

若非巾柴車，應是釣秋水。差池不相見，黽勉空仰止。

草色新雨中，松聲晚窗里。及茲契幽絕，自足蕩心耳。

雖無賓主意，頗得清淨理。興盡方下山，何必待之子。

 
Looking For the Recluse at West Mountain In Vain      
Qiu Wei (Tang Poet)

At the very summit a hut is nestled,

Straight up the mountain thirty miles,

I knock at the door but no servant answers my call,

Looking inside I see only a desk and a tea table,

The recluse must have gone gadding on his fire wood tumbrel,

Or in the autumnal waters to troll,

Missing out each other, just can’t across we fall,

Trying to make the most of this vain call,

I contemplate his empty bower with reverential awe,

Amidst the early rain grasses rankly verdantly sprawl,

Into the casements come the late night pine rustles,

All these cater to my taste for insouciance tranquil,

And help cleanse my earthly soul,

Though I deplore the missed pleasant discourse

Between the host and the visitor who calls,

I have this tranquility to relish after all,

As my whim for visiting is over,

Down the mountain I come leaving with delight thanks to the recluse for the course.