The Jade Mountain/The Hard Road
THE HARD ROAD
(Written to Music)
Pure wine costs, for the golden cup, ten thousand coppers a flagon,And a jade plate of dainty food calls for a million coins.I fling aside my food-sticks and cup, I cannot eat nor drink . . .I pull out my dagger, I peer four ways in vain.I would cross the Yellow River, but ice chokes the ferry;I would climb the T'ai-hang Mountains, but the sky is blind with snow. . .I would sit and poise a fishing-pole, lazy by a brook—But I suddenly dream of riding a boat, sailing for the sun . . .Journeying is hard,Journeying is hard.There are many turnings—Which am I to follow? . . .I will mount a long wind some day and break the heavy wavesAnd set my cloudy sail straight and bridge the deep, deep sea.