659 – 744 · The Old Man Who Came Home

He Zhizhang

贺知章

A court favourite and friend of Li Bai, he retired at eighty-six and wrote the definitive poem on returning home a stranger.

In this edition

2 poems

Written at Random on Returning Home

He Zhizhang 贺知章

少小离家老大回·乡音无改鬓毛衰

I left home young and come back old;

On the Willow

He Zhizhang 贺知章

碧玉妆成一树高·万条垂下绿丝绦

A tall tree dressed in green jade;