More Translations from the Chinese/To Liu Yü-Hsi

Bai Juyi1972966More Translations from the Chinese — To Liu Yü-Hsi1919Arthur Waley

[57] TO LIU YU-HSI

[A.D. 838]

In length of days and soundness of limb you and I are one;
Our eyes are not wholly blind, nor our ears quite deaf.
Deep drinking we lie together, fellows of a spring day;
Or gay-hearted boldly break into gatherings of young men.
When, seeking flowers, we borrowed his horse, the river-keeper was vexed;
When, to play on the water, we stole his boat, the Duke Ling was sore.
I hear it said that in Lo-yang, people are all shocked,
And call us by the name of "Liu and Po, those two mad old men."