四松 by 杜甫

四松初移时，大抵三尺强。 别来忽三载，离立如人长。 会看根不拔，莫计枝凋伤。 幽色幸秀发，疏柯亦昂藏。 所插小藩篱，本亦有堤防。 终然掁拨损，得吝千叶黄。 敢为故林主，黎庶犹未康。 避贼今始归，春草满空堂。 览物叹衰谢，及兹慰凄凉。 清风为我起，洒面若微霜。 足以送老姿，聊待偃盖张。 我生无根带，配尔亦茫茫。 有情且赋诗，事迹可两忘。 勿矜千载后，惨澹蟠穹苍。

Four Pines (literal translation of Du Fu’s poem)

When the four pines were first moved, they were about three feet tall. Three years have passed since we last met, and they are as tall as a person. I will see that the roots are not uprooted, so don’t worry about the withered branches. Fortunately, the faint color is beautiful, and the sparse branches are also tall. The small fence I planted was originally an embankment. In the end, it was damaged, and I was reluctant to leave a thousand leaves yellow. I dare to be the owner of the old forest, but the people are still not healthy. I have just returned from hiding from the thieves, and the spring grass is full of the empty house. I sigh at the withering of things, and here I comfort my loneliness. The breeze rises for me, and sprinkles my face like light frost. It is enough to send off my old figure, waiting for the canopy to be raised. I was born without roots, and I am also helpless with you. If you are sentimental, write poems, and forget the deeds. Don’t be proud of the bleak sky after thousands of years.