A thousand miles eastward you roam,
Your lone heart dwells on journeys flown.
A single sail clings to pale streams' gleam,
While pillowed high in Qingzhou's emerald dream.
At Cypress Hall, withered grasses sigh,
Phoenix Tower's night rains fade dry.
I know your spirit yearns afar—
How oft you'll climb where sea mists spar!
千里东归客，孤心忆旧游。
片帆依白水，高枕卧青州。
柏寝寒芜变，梧台宿雨收。
知君心兴远，每上海边楼。
This poem was composed by Han Hong upon bidding farewell to Zhang Dan, who was embarking on a long journey eastward by water to Beihai (present-day Guangxi). With subtle yet profound emotion, Han masterfully blends the natural imagery of his friend's departure—a boat traversing the river—with his own heartfelt concern, embodying the Tang tradition of "emotion within scenery" in farewell poetry. The verses reflect both the poet's deep care for his friend's journey and his hopeful wishes for the future.
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.
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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