丈夫只手把吳鉤  I stand a man in hand a long hook my feat
意氣高於百尺樓  With a will high as a tower of one hundred feet
一萬年來誰著史  Ten thousand years of history who will write
三千里外欲封侯  Three thousand miles away who be knights
出山志在登鰲頂  Leaving this hill I aim to climb a higher summit
何日身才入鳳池  Whence shall I be in the pond of the legend phoenix
倘無駟馬高車日  Until I command a carriage drawn by four steeds
誓不重回故里車  I vow not to stay in this tiny old cart domestic
即今館閣須才日  At this time when motherland needs men of capability
是我文章報國年  Time has come for me to serve my country
馬足出群休戀棧  A steed exceeding its herd should not be inactive
燕辭故壘更圖新  Swallows giving up old nests look to a new perspective
遍交海內知名士  I shall join aspiring comrades within the seas
去訪京師有道人  And venture to learn from gurus their minds free
他日燕台南望處  The day when I look back home from the learned hall
天涯須報李陵書  I shall answer to my famed ancestor poet cum hero and all