On and On
- Poetry of Anonymous

《行行重行行》

English Rendering

On and on,alas,on and on!

Far away from me you will be gone!

You'll be away o'er ten thousand li,

A world apart between you and me.

As the way is tough and long,my dear,

Who knows if we can meet this year?

The steeds from Hu would neigh in northern breeze;

The birds from Yue would nest in southern trees.


Day by day,the farther you will go,

Day by day,the thinner I will grow.

As the drifting cloud may shroud the sun,

So the roving man may seek new fun.

Thought of you has made me look so old 

When it comes to me that days are cold.

Do forget about it!Let it be!

I hope you'll eat your fill and be carefree!

On and On by Anonymous
On and On by Anonymous

Original Text (中文原文)

行行重行行,与君生别离。

相去万余里,各在天一涯。

道路阻且长,会面安可知?

胡马倚北风,越鸟巢南枝。

相去日已远,衣带日已缓。

浮云蔽白日,游子不顾返。

思君令人老,岁月忽已晚。

弃捐勿复道,努力加餐饭。

Analysis & Context

Set against the backdrop of the turbulent final years of the Han dynasty, this poem expresses a woman's profound longing for her husband who has journeyed far.

Reader's Companion

The Essence of the Verse

Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.

Reading Between the Lines

Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.

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