Cao Cao's most celebrated poems, written in the late years of his life, is Though the Tortoise Lives Long (龜雖壽).




《龜雖壽》

神龜雖壽，猶有竟時。

騰蛇乘霧，終為土灰。

老驥伏櫪，志在千里；

烈士暮年，壯心不已。

盈縮之期，不但在天；

養怡之福，可得永年。

幸甚至哉！歌以咏志。




Though the Tortoise Lives Long

Though the tortoise blessed with magic powers lives long,
Its days have their allotted span;

Though winged serpents ride high on the mist,
They turn to dust and ashes at the last;

An old war-horse may be stabled,
Yet still it longs to gallop a thousand li;

And a noble-hearted man though advanced in years
Never abandons his proud aspirations.

Man's span of life, whether long or short,
Depends not on Heaven alone;

One who eats well and keeps cheerful
Can live to a great old age.

And so, with joy in my heart,
I hum this song.