Sad white duckweed

I see your outlines in the distant mist
I wave my hand and weep soaking my kerchief
would a flying bird not know where its home is ?!
towards the green mountain sky I see someone
in the distance I see one sail on a long river
in the setting Sun five springtime lakes
someone I see on a level river bank
we both walk along sad white duckweed

-- 劉長卿 (Liu Chángqīng) -- Translation by 白狐 (Bái Hú) --

「餞別王十一南遊」
望君煙水闊
揮手淚霑巾
飛鳥沒何處
青山空向人
長江一帆遠
落日五湖春
誰見汀洲上
相思愁白蘋

jiàn bié wáng shí yī nán yóu
wàng jūn yān shuĭ kuò
huī shŏu lèi zhān jīn
fēi niăo méi hé chŭ
qīng shān kōng xiàng rén
cháng jiāng yī fān yuăn
luò rì wŭ hú chūn
shuí jiàn tīng zhōu shàng
xiāng sī chóu bái píng

give-a-farewell-dinner [jiànbié] Wáng [Wéi] 11 south tour //
visit/hope/look-into-the-distance/forward mister-you
smoke water broad/wide/outline // wave/wipe-off
hand tear/weep moisten/soak kerchief // fly/flit/swiftly
bird no[t] who/what/[rhetorical] live/dwell //
green/blue mountain sky/empty to[wards] person //
long/good-at river one sail far // fall/drop/set Sun/day
5 lake spring[time] // who/someone/anyone see
[tīng zhōu = low level land along a river] [up]on //
each-other thought/think[ing]/mood [samemindedness]
worry white duckweed

On Seeing Wang Leave for the South -- 劉長卿 Liu Changqing
http://wengu.tartarie.com/wg/wengu.php?l=Tangshi&no=135

© Copyright Shirogitsune