Verses in ancient poems that express the poet's optimism despite adversity include:
1. Liu Yuxi of the Tang Dynasty "Rewarding Lotte and Seeing Gifts at the First Banquet in Yangzhou"
Original text:
Bashan Chushui is a desolate place, abandoned for twenty-three years. Nostalgic, I recite the flute poems in the air, and when I go to the countryside to read them, I feel like a dead person.
Thousands of sails pass by the side of the sunken boat, and thousands of trees spring in front of the diseased trees. Today I will listen to a song of Junge, and for now I will have a glass of wine to keep my spirits up.
Translation:
I spent twenty-three years in desolate places like Bashan Chushui. Remembering old friends, I recite Wen Di's poems in vain, and when I return from exile after a long time, I feel that things are no longer the same as in the past.
Thousands of ships are passing by beside the sunken ship, but thousands of trees are blooming in front of the diseased trees. After listening to the poem you recited for me today, let me cheer myself up with this glass of wine.
2. "Self-dispatch" by Luo Yin of the Tang Dynasty
Original text:
Sing a song when you gain, and stop when you lose, and you will be filled with sorrow and hatred.
If you have wine today, you will be drunk today, and you will be worried tomorrow.
Translation:
Sing whenever you get a chance, otherwise you will give up. You can ignore all your sorrow and resentment and still be happy.
If you have wine today, drink as much as you can to get drunk. If you have worries tomorrow, just wait until tomorrow to worry about them.
3. "Visiting Shanxi Village" by Lu You in the Song Dynasty
Original text:
Mo Xiao's farmhouse is full of wax and wine, and in good years there are enough chickens and dolphins for visitors. The mountains and rivers are full of doubts and there is no way, and the willows and flowers are dark and the flowers are bright in another village.
The flutes and drums follow the spring society, and the clothes and clothes are simple and ancient. From now on, if I am allowed to take advantage of the moonlight, I will knock on the door all the time and night with my stick.
Translation:
Don’t laugh at the turbid wine brewed by farmers in the twelfth lunar month. In the year of harvest, the dishes for entertaining guests are very rich. The mountains are overlapping and the water is twisting. I am worried that there is no way to go. Suddenly, another mountain village appears in front of me.
The day of playing the flute and playing the drum in the Spring Society is approaching, but the villagers still retain the ancient custom of simple clothes. In the future, if I can still take advantage of the beautiful moonlight to go out for leisurely walks, I will definitely knock on your door at any time with a cane.
4. "Three Poems on a Difficult Journey (Part 1)" by Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty
Original text:
There are ten thousand cups of wine in gold bottles, and there are thousands of treasures on jade plates. money. Stopping the cup and throwing chopsticks, I can't eat. I draw my sword and look around at a loss.
If you want to cross the Yellow River, which is blocked by ice, you will have to climb the snow-covered mountains of Taihang. When I was free to fish on the Bixi River, I suddenly took a boat and dreamed of the sun.
Traveling is difficult! Traveling is difficult! Duoqi Road, where is it now? There will be times when the wind blows and the waves break, and the clouds and sails are hung directly to help the sea.
Translation:
The fine wine in the gold cup is worth ten thousand dollars, and the precious dishes in the jade plate are worth ten thousand dollars. But my sadness made me put down my cup and chopsticks and refused to eat. He pulled out his sword and looked around, feeling confused.
I want to cross the Yellow River, but ice blocks the river; I want to climb the Taihang Mountains, but there is heavy snow all over the mountains. I recall that when Jiang Taigong was fishing in Fenxi River, he met the talented King Wen; Yi Yin took a boat to dream about the sun and was employed by Shang Tang.
How difficult the road of life is, how difficult it is, and how complicated it is. Where is the real road? I firmly believe that the time to ride the wind and waves will definitely come, and when that time comes, we will set sail and sail across the blue sea and blue sky.
5. "Ding Feng Bo·Don't Hear the Sound of Beating Leaves Through the Forest" by Su Shi of the Song Dynasty
Original text:
Don't listen to the sound of beating leaves through the forest, why not scream? And walk slowly. Bamboo sticks and mango shoes are easier than horses, who is afraid? A coop of mist and rain will last a lifetime.
The steep spring breeze blows away the drunkenness, it is slightly cold, but the mountain tops are shining slantingly. Looking back at the desolate place where I came from, there was neither wind, rain nor sunshine.
Translation:
Don’t be afraid of the sound of wind and rain in the woods, why not sing with ease and walk calmly. Carrying a bamboo stick and dragging straw sandals is lighter than riding a horse. These are small things, so what’s so scary about them? Wearing a coir raincoat and letting the lake and the sea pass by you, you can spend your life.
The cool spring breeze woke me up from the drunkenness, and I felt a little cold on my body. The setting sun on the mountain top showed a smile. Looking back at the windy and rainy scene when I came back, it didn’t matter whether it was windy or sunny when I returned.