The crafty sycophants were in power and all the important posts at the court were closed to the outstanding talent. In such a bleak autumn, this former humble official gazed sadly into the distant north where the capital was situated.

奸佞當道賢在野，北望京華悲秋色。

 As he looked back, scenes of the past leaped before his eyes like the waves in the river. Though very homesick, nevertheless he chose to spend his last years drifting on the water.

往事歴歴江間浪，故園難歸終漂泊。