Reply to Comrade Guo Moruo

On this tiny globe
A few flies dash themselves against the wall,
Humming without cease,
Sometimes shrilling¹,
Sometimes moaning.
Ants on the locust² tree assume a great-nation swagger
And mayflies lightly plot to topple the giant tree.
The west wind scatters³ leaves over Chang'an,
And the arrows are flying, twanging.

So many deeds cry out to be done,
And always urgently;
The world rolls on,
Time presses.
Ten thousand years are too long,
Seize the day, seize the hour!
The Four Seas are rising, clouds and water raging,
The Five Continents are rocking, wind and thunder roaring.
Our force is irresistible⁴,
Away with all pests!

回郭沫若同志
一九六三年一月九日

小小寰球，
有几个苍蝇碰壁。
嗡嗡叫，
几声凄厉，
几声抽泣。
蚂蚁缘槐夸大国，
蚍蜉撼树谈何易。
正西风落叶下长安，
飞鸣镝。

多少事，
从来急；
天地转，
光阴迫。
一万年太久，
只争朝夕。
四海翻腾云水怒，
五洲震荡风雷激。
要扫除一切害人虫，
全无敌。