Parting at Xin’an, the Yue guest sighs,
Yearning for Qin’s old land with tearful eyes.
His boat rides the night breeze with ease,
Moonlit tides calm as he flees.
By flowery paths near Xishi’s stone,
Through cloud-peaked walls of Goujian’s throne.
To Mingzhou’s clerks I send this word—
Our mutual grief turns hair to frosty herd.
越客新安别，秦人旧国情。
舟乘晚风便，月带上潮平。
花路西施石，云峰句践城。
明州报两掾，相忆二毛生。
This poem was composed during Qiwu Qian’s exile in Mingzhou, where he served after political setbacks in the capital. Separated from his homeland and fellow exiles—Jia Heng, a local official, and Wen and Zhang, clerks in the administration—Qiwu Qian channels his solitude into this parting verse. Blending farewell sentiments with vivid depictions of Yue’s landscapes, the poem reflects the poet’s longing for companionship amid displacement, weaving personal grief with historical echoes of the region.
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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