University of Virginia Library

Five-character-regular-verse
Meng Haoran FROM QIN COUNTRY TO THE BUDDHIST PRIEST YUAN

How gladly I would seek a mountain
If I had enough means to live as a recluse!
For I turn at last from serving the State
To the Eastern Woods Temple and to you, my master.
...Like ashes of gold in a cinnamon-flame,
My youthful desires have been burnt with the years -
And tonight in the chilling sunset-wind
A cicada, singing, weighs on my heart.