病假中南亭闲望

白居易【唐】

欹枕不视事，两日门掩关。 始知吏役身，不病不得闲。 闲意不在远，小亭方丈间。 西檐竹梢上，坐见太白山。 遥愧峰上云，对此尘中颜。

[14] SICK LEAVE

(While Secretary to the Deputy-Assistant-Magistrate of Chou-chih, near Ch‘ang-an, in A.D. 806)

Propped on pillows, not attending to business;

For two days I've lain behind locked doors.

I begin to think that those who hold office

Get no rest, except by falling ill!

For restful thoughts one does not need space;

The room where I lie is ten foot square.

By the western eaves, above the bamboo-twigs,

From my couch I see the White Mountain rise.

But the clouds that hover on its far-distant peak

Bring shame to a face that is buried in the World's dust.

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