Zhang Heng

Four Stanzas of Sorrow ( 四愁诗 )

Four Stan-zas of Sorrow is the earliest seven-syllabic poem in Chinese literary history.

In Taishan stays my dear sweetheart,

But Liangfu keeps us long apart;

Looking east,I find tears start.

She gives a sword to my delight;

A jade I give her as requite.

I'm at a loss as she is out of sight,

Troubling myself all the night.

In Guilin stays my dear sweetheart,

But Xiang Stream keeps us long apart;

Looking south,I find tears start.

She gives a lute to my delight;

A plate I give her as requite.

I'm full of grief as she is out of sight,

Worrying myself all the night.

In Hanyang stays my dear sweetheart,

But Mount Long keeps us long apart;

Looking west,I find tears start.

She gives a coat to my delight;

A pearl I give her as requite.

I'm ill at ease as she is out of sight,

Bothering myself all the night.

In Yanmen stays my dear sweetheart,

But snowfalls keep us long apart;

Looking north,I find tears start.

She gives some silk to my delight;

A tray I give her as requite.

I sigh and sigh as she is out of sight,

Tormenting myself all the night.