The Tower of the High Sun
(Sending off Jun-heng Chen who was summoned by the
emperor)
Zhou, Mi 1 (1232 A.D.-1298 A.D.)
Your escort carriages are going to pay homage to the emperor. The flags
illuminate good earth. The expanse of flat sand lowers the sky. The wind almost
blows off your downy hat while you drink wine, dressed in an official robe with
ribbons and a gold seal. As you climb mountains to pass Qin Gate and the Bian
River, you will be inspired to write new poems. Accompanied by fine horses and
beautiful women, you will visit as many scenic attractions as you can, listening
to drums beating and flageolets blowing.
While you drink to intoxication, you should view the snow on Yan Mountain,
especially when the rivers are frozen on a moon-lit night or when morning clouds
fly over the mountain peak. Old as Fang-hui He was, who would care about him as
he wandered about destitute south of the Yangtze River 2 ? The east
wind gradually greens the shore of West Lake. Wild geese have returned south,
but I have not. I value your friendship. Even if I pluck all the plum blossoms
as a memento, I will still miss you.
1
Gong-jin, Cao-chuang, Bian-yang-xiao-weng (Loud speaker south of Bian
Mountain), Xiao-zhai, and si-shui-qian-fu (diver in the Si River) are all Mi
Zhou's other first names. He was a native of Ji-nan City. Later, he moved to We-xing
City and lived on Bian Mountain. He was once the Mayor of Yi-wu City during the
Southern Song dynasty. After Kublai Khan (emperor) of the Yuan dynasty ruled
China, Mi Zhou refused to serve Mongolian government.
2
Fang-hui was Poet Zhu He's other first name. Mi Zhou compared himself to
Fang-hui He. Even though his friend was glad to accept a noble position from
Mongolian government, Mi Zhou was content with his poverty and desired to return
south of the Yangtze River to mourn the destroyed Southern Song dynasty.