It's been almost a month of illness, starting with a bout with Covid, which brought on a debilitating knock-on infection thanks to the cytokine storm. Now, after two weeks of antibiotics, some semblance of good health has been restored.
Translating a poem seemed like a good way to celebrate. Somehow when I scroll through the online anthology of Tang poems, I often find a poem perfectly suited to my mood, and that certainly proved to be the case today with this poem by Bai JuYi.
Dream from the Mountaintop
By BaiJuyi
I dreamed of climbing Mt. Song
Alone, carrying a plant and staff
A thousand cliffs, ten thousand ravines
Wandering the whole terrain
I dreamed my feet were flawless
Vigorous as in the days of youth
The magic spirit had restored
Everything as it once was
I sensed the spirit indwelling
Ill appearance gave way to health
Outer and inner realms a mere fantasy
When I woke both seemed unreal
Now in daytime I walk as a cripple
At night I proceed with ease and grace
Night and day are evenly divided
Between all that’s lost and gained
梦上山
白居易
夜梦上嵩山 独携藜杖出
千岩与万壑 游览皆周毕
梦中足不病 健似少年日
既悟神返初 依然旧形质
始知形神内 形病神无疾
形神两是幻 梦寤俱非实
昼行虽蹇涩 夜步颇安逸
昼夜既平分 其间何得失
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