I’m not the water of the Yangtze River
But the yearning tears of the Snowy Mountains.
Drop by drop, day and night, they drip and flow
Then rush into the ocean that I long for.

Since my heart is betrothed to a distant place,
That’s where my ideal is.
I’m not afraid of high mountains and isolated roads,
For I must seek my ocean.

I’m not afraid of zig-zags,
Falls and tumbles.
The pain of yearning
Lasts longer than the pain of seeking.

Bright sun, don’t argue me into staying.
Steep cliffs, don’t block my strides.
Betraying my ideal, accepting other situations
Would drive me stark mad.

Though I’m unsure which road leads there,
I know where my ideal resides.
Even if I have to make a thousand detours
And suffer a thousand setbacks, I will never lose heart.

translated by Fang Dai, Dennis Ding, & Edward Morin