Meng Haoran's farewell to all that

After failing the examinations, he had to leave the capital

Goodbye to Attendant Censor Wang Wei 
Meng Haoran   

Alone, alone, and so why stay? 
Why trail frustrated home each day? 
Though sorry we'll no longer meet,  
I need my pastoral retreat. 
No kindness on the greasy pole; 
In all the world, few kindred souls. 
I must accept my lonely fate, 
Withdraw and close my garden gate.

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Meng Haoran came to the capital for a career in the emperor's service. He failed the examinations, but hung around to try to get an interview through personal connections. There is a story that Wang Wei managed to get him an interview with Emperor Xuanzong, but when Meng read a complaint poem about how the emperor was unappreciative of talent, Xuanzong became annoyed and threw him out. Meng decided to leave the city, and left this poem for his would-be patron.

---

孟浩然  留别王侍御维

寂寂竟何待，朝朝空自归。

欲寻芳草去，惜与故人违。

当路谁相假，知音世所稀。

只应守寂寞，还掩故园扉。