贈衛八處士 To My Retired Friend Wei 五言古詩

中文原文﹕
人生不相見，動如參與商，
今夕復何夕？共此燈燭光。
少壯能幾時？鬢髮各已蒼。
訪舊半為鬼，驚呼熱中腸。
焉知二十載，重上君子堂。
昔別君未婚，兒女忽成行；
怡然敬父執，問我來何方。
問答乃未已，兒女羅酒漿。
夜雨剪春韭，新炊間黃粱。
主稱會面難，一舉累十觴；
十觴亦不醉，感子故意長。
明日隔山岳，世事兩茫茫。

英文翻譯 _ English Translation﹕ By Betty Tseng
We have been unable to reunite for so long,
We have been like morning and evening stars that never meet in the sky.
What a night this has been?
For us to share this candlelight.
For how long does youth last?
Your hair has greyed and so has mine.
Of the old acquaintances I called upon, half of them have ghosts become,
Aghast and gut-wrenched I cried.
All of a sudden twenty years have gone by
Before I could again call on where you reside.
You were not engaged when we went our separate ways,
You are now married with children after all this time.
They courteously greet their father's friend,
And my journey enquire.
Before I could their curiosity satisfy,
You have you son bringing out the wine.
We nibble on spring chives just gathered in the evening rain,
In a fresh meal that rough grains contain, abundant is pure joy as old friends reunite.
You marvel at how unexpected such a reunion is,
In one go you gulp down more than a pint.
Pints after, high in spirit you are yet sober still,
And I am grateful for your friendship so genuine.
Tomorrow shall find us separated by mountains again,
What the future holds is vague and undefined.