蝉
本以高难饱[1],
徒劳恨费声。
五更疏欲断,
一树碧无情。
薄宦[2]梗犹泛[3],
故园芜已平。
烦君最相警,
我亦举家清。
首联讲蝉因高洁而食不果腹,悲鸣传恨。次联说蝉的鸣声到五更天亮时已经稀疏得快要断绝,而碧树却置若罔闻,冷酷无情。反映出诗人空有满腹经纶但又怀才不遇的心情。
注释:
[1]高难饱:古人认为蝉栖于高处,餐风饮露,故说“高难饱”。
[2]薄宦:官职卑微。
[3]梗犹泛:典出《战国策·齐策》,后以“梗泛”比喻漂泊不定,孤苦无依。梗,指草木的直茎。
To the Cicada
High,you can’t eat your fill;
In vain you wail and trill.
At dawn you hush your song,
The tree is green for long.
I drift as water flows.
And waste my garden grows.
Thank you for warning due,
I am as poor as you.
Note:The poet compares himself to the poor hungry cicada.