Burial songs: 1

Tao Qian

Whatever will live will die. I died
young, though not shortchanged by fate.
Last night I was like anyone else.
This morning I’m listed among ghosts.
The spirit thins away who knows where,
leaving a dry body inside hollow timber.
Looking for their father, my pampered
children cry. Friends touch me, sobbing.
But I’ll never know gain and loss again,
or worry over good and evil. After
some thousand autumns or ten thousand
years, who knows honor from disgrace?
Of my time in the world, I only regret
drinking so often without enough wine.

translated by: David Hinton

擬輓歌辭

陶潛

有生必有死，
早终非命促。
昨暮同为人，
今旦在鬼录。
魂气散何之，
枯形寄空木。
娇儿索父啼，
良友抚我哭。
得失不复知，
是非安能觉。
千秋万岁后，
谁知荣与辱。
但恨在世时，
饮酒不得足。