004 張九齡 – 感遇四首其四 004 ZHANG Jiuli

江南有丹橘，經冬猶綠林；

豈伊地氣暖？自有歲寒心。

可以荐嘉客，奈何阻重深？

運命惟所遇，循環不可尋。

徒言樹桃李，此木豈無陰？

004 張九齡 – 感遇四首其四

South of the Yangtze, there grows a variety of red mandarins.

Whose trees all winter long flourish green,

Is it because of the warmer climes?

But rather it is the cores of such mandarins that withstand the freeze.

Such mandarins are befitting offerings to esteemed guests,

Yet the distance keeps them from markets reach.

One abides by circumstances for such is fate,

Nature ravels not even to seekers who are keen.

Yet the worldly only cared to peach and plum trees cultivate,

Don’t these red mandarins trees provide also shade and foliage of green?

摘自https://28utscprojects.wordpress.com/