岁暮归南山

孟浩然

北阙休上书， 南山归敝庐。

不才明主弃， 多病故人疏。

白发催年老， 青阳逼岁除。

永怀愁不寐， 松月夜窗墟。

ON RETURNING AT THE YEAR'S END TO ZHONGNAN MOUNTAIN

Meng Haoran

I petition no more at the north palace-gate.

...To this tumble-down hut on Zhongnan Mountain

I was banished¹ for my blunders, by a wise ruler.

I have been sick so long I see none of my friends.

My white hairs hasten my decline,

Like pale beams ending the old year.

Therefore I lie awake and ponder

On the pine-shadowed moonlight in my empty window.