Li Po's Great Roc Poem

Li Po's Great Roc Poem[1]

Translated by Laijon Liu 20150329

Great roc one day rises with the wind,

He twisters upward ninety thousand miles[2].

If the wind's calm and he comes down,

Still he can churn the mighty sea waves.

People see me and my oddball speech,

They see my bragging and they all sneer.

Even Confucius respected his pupils,

Gentlemen should not ignore young adults[3].

Note:
[1] Poem original title: To Li Yong, he was a Tang calligraphy artist, held a local official job, a friend of Li Po, Tu Fu and Gao Shi.
[2] miles literal translation: li, ancient measurement
[3] young adults literal translation: young of age

Chinese Original:

上 李 邕
　　李 白
　　大鵬一日同風起，
　　扶搖直上九萬裏。
　　假令風歇時下來，
　　猶能簸卻滄溟水。
　　時人見我恒殊調，
　　見余大言皆冷笑。
　　宣父猶能畏後生，
　　丈夫未可輕年少。