On the Tower of the City Wall
- Poetry of Li Shangyin

From hundred-foot-high city wall I look afar;

Beyond green willow trees the sandy islets are.

I remember a scholar while young shed vain tears,

And a famed scholar roamed in the spring of his years.

I can't forget white-haired General on the lake floating,

After changing the face of the world he went boating.

An owl might feed on dead rats with good appetite,

But a phoenix would perch on trees of lofty height.

Poem translator: Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)