Meng Haoran: A message from Lake Dongting to Premier Zhang

A MESSAGE FROM LAKE DONGTIN TO PREMIER ZHANG

Meng Haoran

Here in the Eighth-month the waters of the lake

Are of a single air with heaven,

And a mist from the Yun and Meng valleys

Has beleaguered the city of Youzhou.

I should like to cross, but I can find no boat.

…How ashamed I am to be idler than you statesmen,

As I sit here and watch a fisherman casting

And emptily envy him his catch.

望洞庭湖赠张丞相

孟浩然

八月湖水平， 涵虚混太清。

气蒸云梦泽， 波撼岳阳城。

欲济无舟楫， 端居耻圣明。

坐观垂钓者， 空有羡鱼情。