I long for you, yet my longing goes unanswered;
My friend in the bloom of youth is consumed by sorrow,
Lamenting with grief that lingers on and on.
From Hengyang, the wild geese’s cry resounds clearly;
By the Xiang River’s bank, the spring stream turns back upon itself.
Moved by these sights, I think of my beloved,
And linger hesitantly at the southern edge of the city.
There, where the city’s rim meets the fields, the grasses grow lush and green,
Tears well up and soak both my cheeks.
Among the scattered remnants of a solitary scene,
As the sun sets in the west beyond the Heng Mountains,
I had just been hoping for a carefree journey across boundless waters,
But to fall apart—this was never what I had in mind.
From this moment, our parting is forever;
At midnight, a rooster’s sudden crow startles me awake.
With one loud cock-a-doodle-doo,
I stand on the eastern marshlands, lost in thought.
Slowly I gaze, waiting for you to come;
When we finally clasp hands, tears swell in my eyes.
Yet over the rugged mountains, even the swiftest steed grows weary,
And a rushing gale sweeps through the sacred tent.
My heart is filled with an unquenchable anguish;
I raise my voice in song, leaning against the jagged peaks.
Those peaks are verdant and vibrant—
How I wish I could take up a long sword and try my strength!
To the east lies an island peopled by barbarians,
While the northern hills are all rife with hatred and enmity.
Who shall cleanse these lands? How can I refuse such humble service?
Ziqi, my truest friend, passed away too soon,
And since then, the zither of Boya has fallen silent.
Silence of the zither brings the deepest pain;
The crimson blossoms of spring no longer bloom.
Now, though there may be those who travel a thousand li,
Who will share life’s journey with me?
Before your spirit I offer a cup of wine,
Gazing dimly at the mourning banner.
Where, amid such melancholy, can my heart find rest?
Only in the vast expanse of river and sky—a single shimmering stretch of water.