this uneasy exile
standing hat on head
by a rented car
home that day
but restless still
to return
to points east
6000 miles
over land ocean land again
will it ever end
and how regret rests
now in this heart
for not knowing
that parting
would be our last
parting from a friend
At Yellow Crane Tower Taking Leave of Meng Hao-jan as He Sets Off for Kuang-ling by Li Po
My old friend takes leave of the west at Yellow Crane Tower,
in the misty third-month blossoms goes downstream toYang-chou.
The far-off shape of his lone sail disappears in the blue-green void,
and all I see is the long river flowing to the edge of the sky.
translated by Burton Watson
Seeing Guests Off at Governor Wang’s by T’ao Ch’ien
Autumn days bitter cold, the hundred plants
already in ruins–now footsteps-in-frost
season has come, we climb this tower to
offer those returning home our farewell.
In cold air shrouding mountains and lakes,
forever rootless, clouds drift. And all
those islands carry our thoughts far away,
across threatening wind and water. Here,
we watch night fall, delighting in fine food,
our lone sorrow this talk of separation.
Morning birds return for the night. A looming
sun bundles its last light away. Our roads
part here: you vanish, we remain. Sad,
we linger and look back–eyes seeing off
your boat grown distant, hearts settled in
whatever comes of the ten thousand changes.
translated by David Hinton
To A Friend Bound East by Wen T’ing-yun
The old fort brims with yellow leaves. . .
You insist upon forsaking this place where you have lived.
A high wind blows at Han-yang Ferry
And sunrise lights the summit of Ying-men. . .
Who will be left for me along the upper Yang-tsze
After your solitary skiff has entered the end of the sky?
I ask you over and over when we shall meet again,
While we soften with winecups this ache of farewell.
translated by Witter Bynner & Kiang Kang-hu
On Yellow-Crane Tower, Farewell to Meng Hao-jan Who’s Leaving for Yang-chou by Li Po
From Yellow-Crane Tower, my old friend leaves the west.
Downstream to Yang-chou, late spring a haze of blossoms,
distant glints of lone sail vanish into emerald-green air:
nothing left but a river flowing on the borders of heaven.
translated by David Hinton
Seeing Off Chu Ta Leaving For Ch’in by Meng Hao-jan
For an unemployed gentleman bound for Wuling
a first-rsate sword is worth a ton of gold
I remove this in parting and give it to you
a simple piece of my heart
translated by Red Pine
Setting Sail on the Yang-tsze by Wei Ying-wu (written to Secretary Yuan)
Wistful, away from my friends and kin,
Through mist and fog I float and float
With the sail that bears me toward Lo-yang.
In Yang-chou trees linger bell-notes of evening,
Marking the day and the place of our parting. . . .
When shall we meet again and where?
. . .Destiny is a boat on the waves,
Borne to and fro, beyond our will.
translated by Witter Bynner & Kiang Kang-hu
Taking Leave of a Friend by Li Po (Li Bai)
Here at the city wall
green mountains to the north
white water winding east
we part
one tumbleweed
ten thousand miles to go
high clouds
wandering thoughts
sunset
old friendship
you wave, moving off
your horse
whinnies
twice
translated by David Young
Farewell Once More: to my friend at Feng Chi Station by Tu Fu
Here we part.
You go off in the distance,
And once more the forested mountains
Are empty, unfriendly.
What holiday will see us
Drunk together again?
Last night we walked
Arm in arm in the moonlight,
Singing sentimental ballads
Along the banks of the river.
Your honor outlasts three emperors.
I go back to my lonely house by the river,
Mute, friendless, feeding the crumbling years.
Leonard Durso 