「弄龟罗」白居易

有侄始六岁，字之为阿龟。有女生三年，其名曰罗儿。

一始学笑语，一能诵歌诗。朝戏抱我足，夜眠枕我衣。

汝生何其晚，我年行已衰。物情小可念，人意老多慈。 

酒美竟须坏，月圆终有亏。亦如恩爱缘，乃是忧恼资。

举世同此累，吾安能去之。

CHILDREN 

Written circa 820 

My niece, who is six years old, is called " Miss Tortoise" ; 

My daughter of three, — little " Summer Dress." 

One is beginning to learn to joke and talk ; 

The other can already recite poems and songs. 

At morning- they play clinging about my feet; 

At night they sleep pillowed against my dress. 

Why, children, did you reach the world so late, 

Coming to me just when my years are spent ? 

Young thing's draw our feeling's to them ; 

Old people easily give their hearts. 

The sweetest vintage at last turns sour; 

The full moon in the end begins to wane. 

And so with men the bonds of love and affection 

Soon may change to a load of sorrow and care. 

But all the world is bound by love's ties; 

Why did I think that I alone should escape ?