Song of My Proud Son
- Poetry of Li Shangyin

I am proud of my son,

He is second to none.

Come down one year from Heaven,

He could tell six from seven.

Knowing his name at four,

No pears would he adore.

My friends would come and say

He is no common clay.

His appearance admired

Leaves nothing to be desired.

An immortal would fain

Say he's swallow or crane.

What my friends say, all told,

Would comfort a man old.

In vernal night or day

With his cousins he'd play.

They pass from hall to hall,

Boisterous one and all.

When guests come to see me,

He would come out with glee.

When asked what he need,

He'd veil the truth, indeed.

He mimics one guest's face

In haste and without grace,

Another bearded guest

Stammering without rest.

Like an eagle in flight

Or a strong steed in fight,

He rides a hobby horse

Running with all its force.

He jeers at officers

Blaming their messengers.

By lamplight he makes vows

And to Buddha he bows.

He sweeps webs with his whip,

And honey he would sip.

As light as butterflies,

With willow down he vies.

Meeting his sister dear,

He plays games without fear.

He takes her toilet box

And breaks the golden locks.

Lying on ground, he'd stay;

Threatened, he'd not obey.

He draws the window screen,

Spits and wipes the lute clean.

Sometimes watching me write,

He stands unmoved upright.

Of brocade he makes cover;

Of books he seems a lover.

Asking me to write "spring",

Of spring day he would sing.

Banana's paper white,

Its bud a brush to write.

Then I was fond of books,

Studying long in my nooks,

At forty lean and wise,

I fear nor bug nor lice.

Do not learn to win fame

Like me without a name

Try to learn from the sages

Of the different ages!

You'd be master of kings,

Carefree from trifling things.

The foe in the northwest

Are producing unrest.

Nor war nor peace can cure;

They're hard disease, for sure.

Grow up, be man of men.

Kill the foe in the den!

Son, be a hero brave

And not a scholar grave.

衮师我骄儿，美秀乃无匹。

文葆未周晬，固已知六七。

四岁知姓名，眼不视梨栗。

交朋颇窥观，谓是丹穴物。

前朝尚器貌，流品方第一。

不然神仙姿，不尔燕鹤骨。

安得此相谓？欲慰衰朽质。

青春妍和月，朋戏浑甥侄。

绕堂复穿林，沸若金鼎溢。

门有长者来，造次请先出。

客前问所须，含意不吐实。

归来学客面，闱败秉爷笏。

或谑张飞胡，或笑邓艾吃。

豪鹰毛崱屴，猛马气佶傈。

截得青篔筜，骑走恣唐突。

忽复学参军，按声唤苍鹘。

又复纱灯旁，稽首礼夜佛。

仰鞭罥蛛网，俯首饮花蜜。

欲争蛱蝶轻，未谢柳絮疾。

阶前逢阿姊，六甲颇输失。

凝走弄香奁，拔脱金屈戍。

抱持多反侧，威怒不可律。

曲躬牵窗网，衉唾拭琴漆。

有时看临书，挺立不动膝。

古锦请裁衣，玉轴亦欲乞。

请爷书春胜，春胜宜春日。

芭蕉斜卷笺，辛夷低过笔。

爷昔好读书，恳苦自著述。

憔悴欲四十，无肉畏蚤虱。

儿慎勿学爷，读书求甲乙。

穰苴司马法，张良黄石术。

便为帝王师，不假更纤悉。

况今西与北，羌戎正狂悖。

诛赦两未成，将养如痼疾。

儿当速长大，探雏入虎窟。

当为万户侯，勿守一经帙！