Old Age

More Translations from the Chinese, by Arthur Waley, [1919], at sacred-texts.com

p. 89

[55] OLD AGE

(Addressed to Liu Yü-hsi, who was born in the same year)

(A.D. 835)

We are growing old together, you and I,
Let us ask ourselves, what is age like?
The dull eye is closed ere night comes;
The idle head, still uncombed at noon.
Propped on a staff, sometimes a walk abroad;
Or all day sitting with closed doors.
One dares not look in the mirror's polished face;
One cannot read small-letter books.
Deeper and deeper, one's love of old friends;
Fewer and fewer, one's dealings with young men.
One thing only, the pleasure of idle talk,
Is great as ever, when you and I meet.