To Secretary Pei at the Palace Gate
English translation and interpretation are being reviewed.
春城紫禁晓阴阴。
长乐钟声花外尽，
龙池柳色雨中深。
阳和不散穷途恨，
霄汉长怀捧日心。
献赋十年犹未遇，
羞将白发对华簪。
English translation
In the second month orioles fly over the imperial park, the spring city, the purple forbidden palace, dim at dawn.
The bell of Changle dies away beyond the blossoms, the willow hues of Dragon Pool are deep in rain.
Sunlight and warmth cannot disperse the grief of a road's end, in the high heavens I still hold a heart that would uphold the sun.
Ten years I have offered rhapsodies and still not been noticed, ashamed to set my white hair beside these splendid caps.
Meaning
In the second month of early spring the orioles fly and sing in the palace gardens; at dawn the Purple Forbidden City is deep in spring and the trees thick with shade.
The bell of Changle Palace dies away beyond the flowers; the willows beside the Dragon Pool are bathed in spring rain and their green grows deep.
The warm sun cannot melt away the regret of one stranded at the road's end; gazing into the sky I often keep a heart that would hold up the sun.
For ten years I have presented rhapsody after rhapsody and still found none who knows my worth; my hair is streaked with gray, and I am shamed before this noble cap and pin.
Background
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This poem was written while the author was unsuccessful in the examinations; it was presented to a secretariat gentleman (zhongshu sheren) surnamed Pei at court. The exact date is unknown. In the Tang dynasty the officials in attendance upon the emperor included reception gentlemen (tongshi sheren), diarist gentlemen (qiju sheren), and secretariat gentlemen (zhongshu sheren). These "attendant ministers" waited daily upon the emperor and had a hand in confidential affairs, so the actual range of their power was very great. The unspoken implication of this poem is a hope that Pei would lend him his support and recommendation.