New arrival in Huangzhou
I laugh at myself that I have been busy with my mouth all my life, but my career has turned ridiculous as I grow older.
As the Yangtze River flows around Guo, you will know the beauty of the fish, and the mountains with good bamboos will feel the fragrance of bamboo shoots.
When chasing guests, you might as well put people outside. The poet is Shui Cao Lang.
It's just shameful that it can't help anything, it's still a waste of money for the officials.
Appreciation
In the second year of Yuanfeng (1079), Su Shi was demoted to Huangzhou. In February of the following year, he arrived at the demoted office. This poem was written when I first arrived in Huangzhou.
The basic characteristics of Su Shi's personality are his ability to complain and laugh at himself, and to find joy in adversity. The poet said that he had been busy with his mouth all his life. He did not expect that this time he would be demoted to Huangzhou, but he would get his wish, with aquatic products and mountain vegetables. Officials are placed outside, but such officials have been specially designed for poets since ancient times, and others cannot take their turn. You relegated me to a casual official position so that I could have some free time, but you also cost you some wine bags.
Although these humorous statements are essentially about seeking joy in suffering, they cannot but be said to reflect the poet's optimistic attitude of having the courage to face setbacks in life and being able to transcend himself.