"Written on the Way to Beijing in Response to the Summoning" is a five-character regulated verse written by Fang Xiaoru, a poet of the Ming Dynasty.
应召赴京道上有作
[明]方孝孺
摇落秋冬际，
苍茫鄞[1]越间。
青山欹[2]枕过，
白鸟背[3]人还。
问俗乡音异，
消愁酒价悭[4]。
虚名果[5]何物，
不使病夫闲。
注释：
[1]鄞：地名，春秋时属越，即今天的浙江宁波市。
[2]欹：通“倚”，倚着，靠着。
[3]背：背离，离开。
[4]悭：更加昂贵。
[5]果：确实，真的，这里用于加强语气。
On My Way to the Capital
Fang Xiaoru[1]
The trees shed leaves in autumn late;
The Southern Plain looks desolate.
I see in boat blue hills recede
And white birds fly away in speed.
I hear men talk in accent queer;
I drown my grief in wine more dear.
What is the use of vain renown?
Though ill, I must trudge up and down.
注释：
[1]Summoned to the capital to legalize the new emperor, the poet disobeyed and was put to death together with hundreds of his kinsmen.
