Cen Can - Seeing off District Officer Chang on his Way to the Southern Sea

From the Chinese of Cen Can 

Seeing off District Officer Chang on his Way to the Southern Sea [i]

You never wanted to be District Officer in Nan-hai

But you had aged parents to think of.

Towns and terraces miraged by sea-serpents’ breath! [ii]

Mermen living in villages with the peasants! [iii]

Sea darkens as Three Mountains drizzle, [iv]

Flowers brighten the Five Peaks in spring. [v]

That region abounds in precious jade,

Let not it lure you from pure poverty.

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[i] Though Chang is unknown to us, he was taking up a senior post (9^th degree, 4^th class).

[ii] A popular superstition.

[iii] Mermen could live on land. Their tears were pearls.

[iv] Hills outside Canton, namely Mt. Fan, Mt Yu and Mt Yao.

[v] Five Peaks – also in Guandong.

COPYRIGHT (C) 2010 J D FRODSHAM