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.