What a Hard Journey

Expensive finest wine fills to brim of the golden cup, Costly delicacies in the jade platters on the table up. Yet, I don’t feel like trying the dish I used to pursue , Restlessly I pull out the sword and wonder what to do. I want to cross the Yellow River, but it’s ice-blocked, And to ascend Mount Taihang, but it's snow-bound. Idling the time away fishing by a limpid stream, I Also dream to sail towards the rising sun in sky. The journey is so hard! So hard is the Journey! To choose which way to go at crossroads is risky! One day I’ll ride winds and plough waves in glee, With sails hoisted to cloud, to cross the vast sea. (Tran.)