The Solitary Swan... (Thoughts I) By Zhang Jiuling Poem by Eugene Levich

The solitary swan wings inland from the sea:
“Alighting on ponds is not for me! ”
Sighting a kingfisher pair nesting atop a three pearls tree:
“Don’t you fear the golden arrow’s calamity?
Beautiful feathers arouse men’s envy!
I being wise shall fly high and far away.
How then could archers aim at me? ”

張九齡 Zhang1 Jiu3ling2

感遇 Gan3 you4

孤鴻海上來 Gu1 hong2 hai3 shang4 lai2
池潢不敢顧 Chi2 huang2 bu4 gan3 gu1
側見雙翠鳥 Ce4 jian4 shuang1 cui4 niao3
巢在三珠樹 Chao2 zai4 san1 zhu1 shu4
矯矯珍木巓 Jiao3 jiao3 zhen1 mu4 dian1
得無金丸懼 De2 wu2 jin1 wan2 ju4
美服患人指 Mei3 fu2 huan4 ren2 zhi3
高明逼神惡 Gao1 ming2 bi1 shen2 wu4
今我遊冥冥 Jin1 wo3 you2 ming2 ming2
弋者何所慕 Yi4 zhe3 he2 suo3 mu4