Here friends come, sorrowing, to say farewell,
Oh Lao-lao Ting, tavern where every heart must ache.
Here even the wind of spring knows the pain of parting,
And will not let the willow branches grow green.
translated by Shigeyoshi Obata
parting
anonymous poet from The Kokinshu
Through autumn fields of bush clover
where the wasps drone
at dawn the traveler
sets out–
when can I look for his return?
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
Seeing Off Magistrate Han of Loyang on His Trip East by Wei Ying-wu
This bird of the immortals born for the wind
with turquoise lapels and robe of green
regards my feathers as peculiar
as I twitter away thinking I can sing
we flew back and forth across Loyang
amusing ourselves along crystal streams
friendship with the gods wasn’t meant to be
but happiness filled our hearts
now you’re leaving on a distant mission
on a long dark road through the clouds
but we can still drink and enjoy this day
and sleep tonight among different trees
I’ve paid for lodging east of the city
and spread out a feast in the shade of the wall
as I lift this wine and wish you well
the sadness I feel makes it seem heavy
translated by Red Pine
Parting by Gu Cheng
In spring,
You delicately waved your handkerchief.
Were you telling me to go far away?
Or to come back at once?
No, it doesn’t mean anything
And doesn’t amount to anything.
It’s like a flower fallen into the river,
Like a pearl of dew resting on the flower.
Only the shadows comprehend,
Only the wind perceives,
Only the richly colored butterfly startled by a sigh
Keeps flying back over the heart of the flower. . .
translated by Fang Dai, Dennis Ding, & Edward Morin
Leaving the Yangtze: To Secretary Yuan Ta by Wei Ying-wu
With a sigh I left someone dear
and floated off into the mist and fog
with oars bent for Loyang
and Kuangling’s bells and treeline fading
this morning when we said goodbye
we wondered where we would next meet
in a world like a boat on the waves
rising and falling with no shore in sight
translated by Red Pine
from Parting, Section 2 by Tu Mu
How can a deep love seem deep love,
How can it smile, at a farewell feast?
Even the candle, feeling our sadness,
Weeps, as we do, all night long.
translated by Witter Bynner & Kiang Kang-hu
On The Yo-Yang Tower With His Friend, Chia by Li Po (Li Bai)
Here from the tower we may view
The whole fair region of Yo-yang,
And the winding river
Opening into the Tung-ting Lake.
O wild geese, flying past,
Take away with you the sorrow of the heart!
And, come, thou mountain, give us thy happy moon!
Here will we sit to feast
And tarry a while with the clouds
And pass the cup high above the world of cares.
When we are goodly warm with wine,
Then, thou cooling breeze, arise!
Come and blow as we dance!
And our sleeves will flap like wings.
translated by Shigeyoshi Obata
Leonard Durso 