Classic Poem

Writing issues from pained reflection;
But who writes with pained reflection?
Even if there were one of pained reflection,
In all the world, how many would recognize him?
Skillful prose and skillful poetry
Are very like the chess of a champion master;
Though a grand master may respond casually,
There is a knack to his every move.
Unless one looks on, move by move,
It will be the same as peeking at the sky through a tube.
A text has to be written character by character;
It should also be read character by character.
Mulling over places where there is an aftertaste,
A hundred readings will not suffice.
If, by effort, one achieves full comprehension,
Its language will become like next-of-kin.
It was only allowed Kuang and K'uei,
Hearing plucked strings, to discern proper music.
Men of today, going through texts,
Sweep over ten lines at a glance.
A stuffy nose cannot distinguish fragrant from foul;
Bad eyesight confuses red and green.
If the tiniest part is overlooked,
The perceived object could be Ch'u or Shu.
No wonder that at the foot of Ching Mountain,
One often hears the weeping of the maimed one.