江州重別薛六柳八二員外 劉長卿

江州重別薛六柳八二員外      劉長卿(726-786)
生涯豈料承優詔，世事空知學醉歌。
江上月明胡雁過，淮南木落楚山多。
寄身且喜滄洲近，顧影無如白髮何。
今日龍鐘人共老，愧君猶遣慎風波。

A Second Farewell to Councilors Xue and Liu

at Jiangzhou                 Liu Changqing (726-786)

All my jinxed life I’ve never expected to receive a summon of grace from the Emperor to put me on His behoof,

Amidst the vicissitudes of life I could only sing with abandon and get drunk taking after the sages of old,
Over the moon lit river wild geese from the land of the barbarians fly off,
To the south of the River Huai woods in the mountains of Chu shed and fall,
By Cangzhou I lay up in self exile,
In the mirror I can’t help my hair turning grizzle,
We are becoming decrepit seniles,
How ashamed I am I still need your advice to make scruples with mischances to bolt.