To the Cloud

云

[唐] 来鹄（许渊冲译）

You have a thousand shapes in flakes or piles in vain;

Hidden in mountains or on water you remain.

The drought is so severe that all seedlings would die.

Why won’t you come down but leisurely tower high?

千形万象竟还空，

映水藏山片复重。

无限旱苗枯欲尽，

悠悠闲处作奇峰。

[词汇] vain

adj.虚荣的，自负的；徒劳的

He was vain and bombastic.

他既虚荣又浮夸。