English Rendering
The fair one holds a zither, jade and rare,
Plays "Parting Cranes" with grief beyond compare.
South and north the paired birds now fly apart,
Once shared perches no more shelter the heart.
Surely not metal or stone's enduring core,
How could things stay as they were before?
Born as twin flowers on a single stem,
They'll fall at different times—farewell to them.
The autumn woods face the setting sun's ray,
As light and shade themselves now fade away.
Still hoping to make your heart understand,
Each dawn I wear orchids with trembling hand.
