Pass By Qin Zheng Tower
过 勤 政 楼
千 秋 佳 节 名 空 在
承 露 丝 襄 世 已 无。
唯 有 紫 苔 偏 称 意
年 年 因 雨 上 金 铺。
Guo Qin Zheng Lou
Qian qiu jia jie ming kong zai
Cheng lu si xiang shi yi wu.
Wei you zi tai pian chen yi
Nian nian yin yu shang jin pu.
Pass By Qin Zheng Tower
This famous tower celebrates his birthday, not a hard-working politician
Tradition of silk purses expecting small imperial gifts no longer observed.
Now the tower only has red moss and unkempt landscaping.
Every year the overcast skies and rain turn the golden door knocker green.
Notes:
[In 741 AD, emperor Xuanzong rebuilt the Qin Zheng tower located south of the main palaces. This poem describes the state of affairs in the imperial capital after the Anshan Rebellion.]