Meng Haoran: With Chu the Twelfth, On the Road to Luoyang

 

[updated September 2022]

 

With Chu the Twelfth, On the Road to Luoyang

 

同 储 十 二 洛 阳 道 中 作
珠 弹 繁 华 子
金 羁 游 侠 人。                                                                                                    酒 酣 白 日 暮
走 马 入 红 尘。

 

Tong Chu Shi Er Luo Yang Dao Zhong Zuo

Zhu tan fan hua zi
Jin ji you xia ren.                                                                                                                         Jiu han bai ri mu
Zou ma ru hong chen.

 

With Chu the Twelfth, On the Road to Luoyang

Pearls bounce, amid all your wealthy things
Gold halter, you are well connected with many people.                                 Bright sunset, drunk on wine
Our walking horses enter the red dust.

 

Notes:

Gold halter: A sign of considerable wealth.

Red dust: Also used as a metaphor for the chaos and pain of the material and mortal world.