行路难 ·其一

——李白

金樽清酒斗十千，玉盘珍羞直万钱。

停杯投箸不能食，拔剑四顾心茫然。

欲渡黄河冰塞川，将登太行雪满山。

闲来垂钓碧溪上，忽复乘舟梦日边。

行路难！行路难！多歧路，今安在？

长风破浪会有时，直挂云帆济沧海。

Travelling Is Hard

—LiBai（from kekenet.com）

Clear wine in golden goblets, ten thousandcash a cup,

And costly delicacies on jade platters.

Yet I spurn drinking and toss away mychopsticks,

Sword in hand, restless, I wonder what todo.

I want to cross the Yellow River, but it'sice-bound;

I want to climb the Taihang Mountains, butthey're snow-covered.

So idly I fish by a limpid stream,

Dreaming of sailing towards the sun.

Travelling is hard! Travelling is hard!

So many crossroads; which to choose?

One day I'll skim the waves, blown by thewind,

With sails hoisted high, across the vastocean.

Hard Journey of Life

Poemby Li Bai

Eng.trans.byDeng Yingyi

Wind in golden cup is precious,

Dainty in jade plate is priceless.

But I stop drinking and eating,

Pulling out my sword I'm at a loss.

I'll cross Yellow River, but ice jammed it,

I'llclimb mount Tai Hang, but it's snowcapped.

At leisure bythe clean stream,

Dreaming in aboat sailing to the sky.

Hard journey! Hard journey!

Too many paths,which shall I take?

Someday I willbrave the wind and the waves,

In full sail Imay cross the vast sea.

Hard is the Way of the World

Poem by Li Bai

Eng.trans.by Xu Yuanchong(许渊冲)

Pure wine in golden cup costs ten thousand coins,good!

Choice dish in a jade plate is worth asmuch, nice food!

Pushing aside my cup and chopsticks, I can’teat;

Drawing my sword and looking round, I hear myheart beat.

I can’t cross Yellow River: ice has stoppedits flow;

I can’t climb Mount Taihang: the sky isblind with snow.

I poise a fishing pole with ease on thegreen stream,

Or set sail for the sun like the sage in adream.

Hard is the way. Hard is the way.

Don’t go astray! Whither today?

A time will come to ride the wind andcleave the waves;

I’ll set my cloud-like sail to cross thesea which raves.