I remember my youth and prime,
When, without any specific cause, my heart was naturally filled with joy.
My fierce ambitions soared beyond the four seas;
Like a bird spreading its wings, I longed to fly far into the sky.
But as the years slipped away and my vigor faded,
This spirit gradually departed from me.
Even when encountering joy, I no longer feel entertained;
Instead, I am often burdened by endless worries.
My physical strength and vitality are steadily declining;
With each passing day, I feel I am becoming less than I was.
Like a boat hidden in a ravine, time waits for no moment,
Silently carrying me away, allowing me no pause.
How much further does my remaining journey stretch?
I do not know where my final anchorage will be.
The ancients cherished every inch of time;
Reflecting upon this fills me with profound dread.
Note
The Lost “Fierce Resolve”
In this poem, Tao Yuanming reflects on his youth with a sense of profound loss. The “fierce ambitions” that once soared beyond the four seas reveal that Tao was not always the serene, detached hermit he is often remembered as. In his early years, he possessed the grand, heroic aspirations typical of a Confucian scholar, eager to serve his country and leave a mark on the world. This line perfectly echoes the “fierce resolve” he praises in his poem about the mythological rebel Xingtian. It highlights the tragic contrast between his youthful fire and his later, forced tranquility.
The Metaphor of the Hidden Boat
This is one of the most famous philosophical metaphors in Chinese literature, originating from the ancient Daoist text Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi states: “If you hide a boat in a ravine, it seems secure. But in the dead of night, a strong force may carry it away.” Tao uses this metaphor to personify Time. No matter how securely we anchor ourselves in life, the relentless, invisible force of time silently carries us toward death without a moment’s pause. It represents the ultimate powerlessness of human beings against the natural cycle of aging.
The Dread of Wasted Time
The poem concludes with a deep existential anxiety. The phrase “cherishing every inch of time” comes from the ancient saying, “The sage does not cherish a foot of jade, but cherishes an inch of time (圣人不贵尺之璧，而重寸之阴).” While the ancients used this to motivate people to achieve great deeds before death, Tao’s use of it is far more tragic. Knowing that his “fierce ambitions” have been thwarted by the chaotic era and his declining health, his reflection on wasted time is not a call to action, but a paralyzing “dread” of mortality and unfulfilled potential.
The Contrast with Earlier Poems
If you compare this poem to Returning to My Fields and Gardens, you can see the dual nature of Tao’s soul. In his pastoral poems, he finds peace in the present moment and the natural world. In Miscellaneous Poems, he confronts the brutal reality of aging and his own unfulfilled life goals. This poem strips away the romanticized veil of the “happy hermit,” revealing a deeply human, vulnerable man wrestling with the universal fear of time running out.
杂诗十二首·其五
陶渊明〔魏晋〕
忆我少壮时，无乐自欣豫。
猛志逸四海，骞翮思远翥。
荏苒岁月颓，此心稍已去。
值欢无复娱，每每多忧虑。
气力渐衰损，转觉日不如。
壑舟无须臾，引我不得住。
前涂当几许，未知止泊处。
古人惜寸阴，念此使人惧。
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