Ballad of Mount Lu, to Attendant Lu Xuzhou
English translation and interpretation are being reviewed.
凤歌笑孔丘。
手持绿玉杖，
朝别黄鹤楼。
五岳寻仙不辞远，
一生好入名山游。
庐山秀出南斗傍，
屏风九叠云锦张，
影落明湖青黛光。
金阙前开二峰长，
银河倒挂三石梁，
香炉瀑布遥相望，
回崖沓嶂凌苍苍。
翠影红霞映朝日，
鸟飞不到吴天长。
登高壮观天地间，
大江茫茫去不还。
黄云万里动风色，
白波九道流雪山。
好为庐山谣，
兴因庐山发。
闲窥石镜清我心，
谢公行处苍苔没。
早服还丹无世情，
琴心三叠道初成。
遥见仙人彩云里，
手把芙蓉朝玉京。
先期汗漫九垓上，
愿接卢敖游太清。
English translation
I am by nature a madman of Chu, who sang of the phoenix and laughed at Confucius.
In hand I hold a staff of green jade, at dawn I take leave of Yellow Crane Tower.
To seek immortals in the five peaks I mind not the distance, all my life I have loved to wander the famous mountains.
Mount Lu rises fair beside the Southern Dipper, the nine-fold screen peak spreads like brocade of cloud,
its shadow falling on the bright lake, a blue-black sheen.
Before the golden gate two peaks stand tall, the Silver River hangs upside down at three stone beams,
the Incense Burner waterfall faces it from afar, winding cliffs and piled ranges scaling the blue.
Green shadows and red clouds reflect the morning sun, birds cannot fly so far, the sky of Wu is long.
I climb high to view the grandeur between heaven and earth, the great river, vast, flows on and does not return.
Yellow clouds for ten thousand li stir the wind, white waves in nine channels race past snowy mountains.
Well may I make a song of Mount Lu, the mood is kindled by Mount Lu.
At leisure I gaze into the stone mirror that clears my heart, where Xie once walked, the green moss has covered all.
Long ago I took the reverted elixir and cast off worldly feeling, the lute-heart thrice-folded, the Way begins to form.
Far off I see immortals among the colored clouds, holding lotus, going to court at the Jade Capital.
I have made tryst with the Boundless beyond the ninefold skies, and would take Lu Ao to roam the highest clear.
Meaning
I am that madman of Chu, Jie Yu, singing my phoenix song in mockery of Confucius.
In my hand I take a staff inlaid with green jade; at earliest dawn I bid farewell to the famed Yellow Crane Tower.
To climb the Five Peaks in search of the Way of the immortals I fear no length of road; all my life I have loved to set foot upon famous mountains.
The fair Mount Lu rises beside the Southern Dipper; its ninefold screen of cloud spreads out like brocade and rosy dawn, and lake-light and hill-shadow reflect each other in blue radiance.
Before the crag of the Golden Gate twin peaks stand erect against the clouds; the cataract of the Three Stone Beams hangs like an inverted Milky Way pouring down.
The waterfall of Incense Burner Peak faces it from afar; cliff upon cliff, ridge upon ridge, tower to the clouds in vast succession.
The emerald clouds and rosy glow shine against the morning sun; not even birds can cross the broad and far-stretching skies of Wu.
I climb high and gaze far upon the splendour between heaven and earth; the great river flows eastward, never to return.
Across the wide sky the yellow clouds change with the wind; the nine branches of the river surge like snow-crowned mountains.
I rejoice
Background
Read the background
This poem was written in 760, the first year of the Shangyuan era of Emperor Suzong of Tang, the year after the poet was pardoned while being banished to Yelang. After his pardon Li Bai went from Jiangxia (present-day Wuchang, Hubei) to Xunyang (present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi) to revisit Mount Lu, and wrote this poem to send to Lu Xuzhou.