Beginning my exile

A rooster wakes me up. The dream on my pillow fades. The light in the inn is still dim. The moon fades in the sky. Clouds unfold from the mountains. Frost gleams and turns to dew. The road of life seems endless. Our struggles here are brief and pleasures are rare. Before I resume my journey, I chant a prayer and sit in silence to recall a thousand memories. Once we two young brothers freshly arrived at the capital. From then on, only twists and turns. We both thought that our pens would make emperors and sages. It all seemed too easy. Confucius said, “The court decides to appoint or to dismiss, but only you decide to succeed.” I won’t sit back and fail in poverty. I’ll live a long and rich life and be more worthy than the emperor.