Lamenting the Year

旻天兮清凉，玄气兮高朗。

The autumn sky is fresh and cool, and the dark ether hangs high and clear.

北风兮潦洌，草木兮苍唐。

The north wind blows bitter and cold, and the grasses and trees turn colour and begin to wither.

蛜蚗兮噍噍，蝍蛆兮穰穰。

The cold cicadas chirr and chirr, and centipedes writhe in numbers, soon to go to ground.

岁忽忽兮惟暮，余感时兮悽怆。

The year hurries by to its close, and moved by the turning season I am filled with desolate grief.

伤俗兮泥浊，矇蔽兮不章。

I grieve that the world's ways are foul as mud; the ruler is hoodwinked and the worthy go unseen.

宝彼兮沙砾，捐此兮夜光。

They treasure that sand and gravel and throw away this pearl that shines in the night.

椒瑛兮湟汙，葈耳兮充房。

Pepper and fine jade are fouled in muddy water, while the noxious cocklebur fills the chambers beside the ruler.

摄衣兮缓带，操我兮墨阳。

I gather up my robe and loosen my sash, and take in hand my sword Moyang.

昇车兮命仆，将驰兮四荒。

I mount my carriage and command my groom, about to gallop to the four wild ends of the earth.

下堂兮见虿，出门兮触螽。

Stepping down from the hall I see a venomous scorpion, and going out the gate I run into wasps.

巷有兮蚰蜓，邑多兮螳螂。

In the lanes crawl house-centipedes, and the town is full of mantises.

睹斯兮嫉贼，心为兮切伤。

Seeing these creatures that envy and wound the good, my heart is cut with pain.

俛念兮子胥，仰怜兮比干。

Bowing my head I think of Wu Zixu, minister of Wu; lifting it I pity Bi Gan, minister of Yin.

投剑兮脱冕，龙屈兮蜿蟤。

I cast down my sword and take off my cap, and curl up like a dragon coiled upon itself.

潜藏兮山泽，匍匐兮丛攒。

I hide away among the hills and marshes, crawling through the dense thickets.

窥见兮溪涧，流水兮沄沄。

I peer into a mountain stream, where the water seethes and rushes on in torrents.

鼋鼍兮欣欣，鱣鲇兮延延。

Soft-shelled turtles and alligators sport in delight, and sturgeon and catfish stream past in endless line.

群行兮上下，骈罗兮列陈。

They move in shoals up and down, arrayed side by side and drawn up in ranks.

自恨兮无友，特处兮茕茕。

I hate that I have no friend, dwelling by myself, utterly alone.

冬夜兮陶陶，雨雪兮冥冥。

The winter night stretches long and long, and the falling rain and snow are dark and dim.

神光兮颎颎，鬼火兮荧荧。

Spirit lights, the essence of hills and streams, gleam and glitter, and ghost fires flicker faintly.

修德兮困控，愁不聊兮遑生。

I cultivate virtue yet am stranded with no one to draw me forward; joyless with grief, I have no leisure even for my livelihood.

忧纡兮郁郁，恶所兮写情。

Sorrow winds round me and knots within, and where can I go to pour out my heart?