Though the Tortoise Lives Long

A break from Haiku today. The following is a poem supposedly written by the great and honorable high Chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty and Emperor Wu of Wei, Cáo Cāo (May the Gods be content with him).

I heard this tale from the good Doctor Benjamin Redstone many long years ago, who in turn heard it from I know not whom. But the tale comes first from Ishii Ro-eem, a time traveler like Dr. Redstone, from one of Saturn's many moons, the man to which it happened.

Now Ishii Ro-eem was a long-lived wanderer and a poet who, on a journey to Earth long ago, found himself in the court of the great warlord and High Chancellor Cáo Cāo (May the Gods be content with him). The story continues with many great feats, twists, and turns and numerous bizarre acts, but in the end, Ishii Ro-eem is said to have impregnated the Honorable High Chancellor's favorite wife, Lady Bian, and found himself in a spot of great peril, and was only able to escape by telling the Great Warlord and Honorable High Chancellor this very poem, the poem for which Cáo Cāo has become quite famous.

So now, for your pleasure, the great poem, written by a long-lived time traveler born on one of Saturn's many moons, and given to the Great and Honorable High Chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty and Emperor Wu of Wei, Cáo Cāo (May the Gods be content with him) as payment for the indecency of impregnating his favorite wife. Enjoy.


《龜雖壽》
Though the Tortoise Lives Long

神龜雖壽，猶有竟時。
Though the tortoise blessed with magic powers lives long,
Its days have their allotted span;

騰蛇乘霧，終為土灰。
Though winged serpents ride high on the mist,
They turn to dust and ashes at the last;

老驥伏櫪，志在千里；
An old war-horse may be stabled,
Yet still it longs to gallop a thousand li;

烈士暮年，壯心不已。
And a noble-hearted man though advanced in years
Never abandons his proud aspirations.

盈縮之期，不但在天；
Man's span of life, whether long or short,
Depends not on Heaven alone;

養怡之福，可得永年。
One who eats well and keeps cheerful
Can live to a great old age.

幸甚至哉！歌以咏志。
And so, with joy in my heart,
I hum this song.

-Cáo Cāo, penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty and Emperor Wu of Wei (魏武帝).