Others may envy your neighbor for his wealth, With gold coins filling his bag like a斗 full of beans. In front of him, women in makeup are dazzling, Surrounded by twelve golden ornaments.
His sleeves hold novel melodies and music, Unaware of the old scriptures and rites. He's making friends with heroes on fine steeds, With golden saddles and halts.
But the heavens may not always favor him, And fleeting pleasures cannot last long. Once grand halls may turn into lonely ruins, As herds of cows and sheep wander in the sun.
Do not envy the old man next door, A tall man with a full face and abundant eyebrows. He's closed to the world, refusing to seek honors, Unfamiliar with kings and dukes for half a lifetime.
He's indifferent to trifles like profits, And lazy to speak of achievements in battle. His humble abode often lets moonlight in, And he lives in rags without much warmth.
Although he lacks the wealth of wine and grain, He is loyal to his own ideals. Speaking of reason to visitors with courage, Willing to discuss shortcomings with openness.
Inside his chest beats a spirit like a rainbow-long, With lofty ambitions akin to Chen Yuanlong. But like floating branches in the wind, a hundred years of prosperity are fleeting; The honors and disgrace are soon forgotten.
The brave spirit of the hero inspires awe, Just like the robust coral at Anrong; But the foolishness of Ji Lun is truly ridiculous, akin to a foolish child. The spring at Jin Yu has passed in dreams, and all past memories are lost. All that remains is the lonely spring red amidst lonely wild grass. The dancing has ended with the dispersed flowers; even Shi Chong is mocked by the pedestrians on the road for their wealth but ignorance. It's too late for Hou Shang Shanshan's lament in modern times. The kind of hunger that cannot be filled with weeds is present in her spirit. Her name remains unfaded today, as bright as a white moon hanging high in the sky. And within the vastness of the world, her spirit shines from north to south and east to west. Her pure wind spreads across millions of years without end, while those who are lost in vanity are like short flames dancing in the wind.
《东邻叟歌》是一首富含哲理与对比意味的诗歌，通过描绘东邻叟与西家翁两种截然不同的生活方式和最终命运，深刻反映了作者对于人生价值观的思考。
开篇即以“君莫羡东邻叟，囊贮黄金动盈斗”引入，东邻叟富甲一方，生活奢华，身边围绕着美色与权贵，享受着物质世界的极致诱惑。他的世界充满了“粉白黛绿”的浮华，“十二金钗”环绕，音乐曲谱追求新奇，却对古代经典“五典三坟”一无所知。这样的生活看似风光无限，实则空虚浅薄，因为“天公未必长尔私，有限欢娱岂能久”。诗人预言，再华丽的殿堂终将化为荒丘，繁华落尽，只剩牛羊在废墟上奔跑，暗示了物质财富的短暂与虚幻。
转而笔锋一转，描述西家翁的形象：“羡君莫笑西家翁，身长七尺眉颊丰。”他虽贫寒，却安贫乐道，不慕名利，闭门谢客，远离世俗的喧嚣与阿谀奉承。西家翁无心计较微小的利益，更不屑谈论封侯拜相之功，他的生活虽简朴，“茅屋颓垣常漏月，麻衣短袂不蔽风”，但内心却怀揣着对国家的赤诚忠心。他与客交谈，只论道理，向人倾诉，尽诉衷肠，胸中豪情万丈，壮志凌云，不减古代英雄陈元龙。
诗人通过对比两位老人的生活状态，指出“百年富贵如飘蓬，是非荣辱转眼空”，强调物质财富的短暂与人生的无常。东邻叟虽一时显赫，如同石崇拥有珊瑚树般的奢华，但最终如同石崇梦回金谷园，一切繁华成空，只留下荒烟衰草，成为后人的笑柄。而西家翁虽生活清贫，却因坚守道德与理想，其精神光辉如同皓月当空，照耀千古，清风传颂，万古流芳。
最后，诗人以“俯视沈酣声利辈，空中短焰风里虫”作为对世人的警醒，那些沉迷于名利场中的人们，就如同风中摇曳的短暂火焰，终将熄灭。全诗以深刻的哲理和鲜明的对比，倡导了一种超脱物质、追求精神富足的生活态度，鼓励人们以高洁的品德和坚定的信念面对人生的起伏与变迁，留下了无尽的思考与启示。
