University of Virginia Library

五言律詩 李商隱 蟬

本以高難飽, 徒勞恨費聲。
五更疏欲斷, 一樹碧無情。
薄宦梗猶汎, 故園蕪已平。
煩君最相警, 我亦舉家清。

Five-character-regular-verse
Li Shangyin A CICADA

Pure of heart and therefore hungry,
All night long you have sung in vain --
Oh, this final broken indrawn breath
Among the green indifferent trees!
Yes, I have gone like a piece of driftwood,
I have let my garden fill with weeds....
I bless you for your true advice
To live as pure a life as yours.