Listen to this article
瑶池
瑶池阿母绮窗开，
黄竹歌[1]声动地哀。
八骏[2]日行三万里，
穆王何事不重来。
此诗以《穆天子传》所载的西王母与周穆王相约见面的传说来构思，讥刺了皇帝求仙的虚妄。晚唐迷信求长生不老之风尤为盛行，宪宗、穆宗、武宗等皆因四处求仙、服丹药妄求长生而丧命，诗人以此诗嘲讽那些统治者，恰如其分。
注释：
[1]黄竹歌：逸诗，也作《黄竹诗》。
[2]八骏：传说周穆王有八匹骏马，可日行三万里。
The Pond of Jewels
TheQ ueen of Jewel Pond opened her window wide
But only heard grievous songs rolling to her side.
The royal steeds could run ten thousand miles a day
Why did the emperor not come again and stay?
Note:The Goddess of Jewel Pond waited in vain for the arrival of Emperor Zhou Mu（周穆王）whose steeds could run ten thousand miles a day.This verse shows that even a goddess could not immortalize an emperor.
