人生到处知何似?
应似飞鸿踏雪泥。
泥上偶然留指爪,
鸿飞那复计东西!
老僧 ② 已死成新塔,
坏壁 ③ 无由见旧题。
往日崎岖还记否?
路长人困蹇驴 ④ 嘶。
①渑(miǎn)池:今河南渑池县。②老僧:僧人奉闲。③坏壁:奉闲僧舍。④蹇驴:跛脚的驴子。
What do you think is human life like here or there?
It seems like a swan's traces on mud or on snow.
See the claw and nail prints by chance mud and snow
bear. Will the flying swan care what it has left below?
The old monk, dead, has left but a dagoba new;
The verse we wrote was gone with the wall in decay.
What I remember of the journey made with you
Is a weary long way and the lame donkey's bray.
苏轼赴凤翔任,途经渑池。苏辙送兄至郑州,分手回京,作《怀渑池寄子瞻兄》。苏轼因作此诗相和。此诗表达对人生来去无定的怅惘和往事旧迹的深情眷念。