「自江州至忠州」白居易
前在浔阳日，已叹宾朋寡。忽忽抱忧怀，出门无处写。
今来转深僻，穷峡巅山下。五月断行舟，滟堆正如马。
巴人类猿狖，矍铄满山野。敢望见交亲，喜逢似人者。
ON BEING REMOVED FROM HSUN-YANG AND SENT TO CHUNG-CHOU
A remote place in the mountains of Pa (Ssech'uan)
Before this, when I was stationed at Hsün-yang,
Already I regretted the fewness of friends and guests.
Suddenly, suddenly, — bearing a stricken heart
I left the gates, with nothing to comfort me.
Henceforward, — relegated to deep seclusion
[n a bottomless gorge, flanked by precipitous mountains,
Five months on end the passage of boats is stopped
By the piled billows that toss and leap like colts.
The inhabitants of Pa resemble wild apes;
Fierce and lusty, they fill the mountains and prairies.
Among such as these I cannot hope for friends
And am pleased with anyone who is even remotely human