文／唐．王維（699-759）

獨坐悲雙鬢，空堂欲二更。

雨中山果落，燈下草蟲鳴。

白髮終難變，黃金不可成。

欲知除老病，唯有學無生。

──選自《全唐詩》

Sitting Alone on an Autumn Night

Wang Wei (699 - 759, Tang Dynasty)

English translation: Venerable Miao Guang

Sitting alone with sorrowful sideburns,

the empty room welcomes the second

watch of the night.

The mountain fruits fall amidst the rain,

while beetles chirp beneath the lamp.

White hair inevitably never changes,

let alone become gold.

One must know that the way

to eradicate old age and sickness,

Is only by learning not to be born.

── from Quan Tang Shi

(Complete Collection of Tang Poems)