听董大弹胡笳声兼寄语弄房给事
蔡女昔造胡笳声，一弹一十有八拍。
胡人落泪沾边草，汉使断肠对归客。
古戍苍苍烽火寒，大荒沉沉飞雪白。
先拂商弦后角羽，四郊秋叶惊摵摵。
董夫子，通神明，深山窃听来妖精。
言迟更速皆应手，将往复旋如有情。
空山百鸟散还合，万里浮云阴且晴。
嘶酸雏雁失群夜，断绝胡儿恋母声。
川为静其波，鸟亦罢其鸣。
乌孙部落家乡远，逻娑沙尘哀怨生。
幽音变调忽飘洒，长风吹林雨堕瓦。
迸泉飒飒飞木末，野鹿呦呦走堂下。
长安城连东掖垣，凤凰池对青琐门。
高才脱略名与利，日夕望君抱琴至。
The woman surnamed Cai once made the sound of Hu-中国民族乐器-through her skills on the instrument. Each of her eighteen strokes created a single piece of music. The people from the north were so touched that their tears fell on the grass nearby, and even the officials who served as intermediaries from China to the borderland wept for their sadness when welcoming guests. In the ancient garrison, where烽火was smoking in a dim and chilly light, in the vast wilderness, where snow was falling, she played first the initial chord of a tune, followed by the others, and the autumn leaves rustled around the outskirts as if startled.
Master董had extraordinary skills that allowed him to discern spirits and monsters in deep mountains by listening. His hands moved effortlessly in harmony with his heart, and though he spoke slowly, they moved faster, matching the music effortlessly. The birds in the empty mountains scattered and gathered as they pleased, just like the various tones of clouds moving in the vast sky. His music echoed with the cries of lost young birds, as well as those of a child separated from their mother.
When the music was played, even the river stopped its flowing and birds stopped their singing to listen. The people of the Usumu tribe felt far away from their homes, and those in the Losa region expressed their sorrow through their music. The graceful sound changed abruptly into a free and easy style of playing that was light like a gentle breeze blowing through the forest, or raindrops hitting roof tiles. It could also sound sharp like trees rustling or simulate a deer pacing gracefully in front of a hall as it makes a call.
The capital city of Chang'an was connected to its imperial office through walls and courtyards protected by exquisite doors called green door locks. This poem calls for high-ranking talents to disregard fame and fortune and to embrace their ideals with passion. I hope to see you every day with your instrument in your hands and your music in your heart.