[updated October 2022]
Send Off Mr. Yuan, Local County Bailiff, Returning to Guang Ling
送 元 仓 曹 归 广 陵
官 闲 得 去 住
告 别 恋 音 徽。
旧 国 应 无 业
他 乡 到 是 归。
楚 山 明 月 满
淮 甸 夜 钟 微。
何 处 孤 舟 泊？
遥 遥 心 曲 违。
Song Yuan Cang Cao Gui Guang Ling
Guan xian de qu zhu
Gao bie lian yin hui.
Jiu guo ying wu ye
Ta xiang dao shi gui.
Chu shan ming yue man
Huai dian ye zhong wei.
He wai gu zhou bo?
Yao yao xin qu wei.
Send Off Mr. Yuan, Local County Bailiff, Returning to Guang Ling
Your government position so small, you can either stay or move on
Bid you farewell, I will long for the sound of your voice.
We have no more business in your hometown
A hometown should be wherever you are.
Chu mountains with a bright full moon
Hui countryside, night time bell sounds profound.
Where outside is your solitary boat moored?
Being far away from each other goes against our innermost beings.
Notes:
Guang Ling: Historical name for the city of Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province.
Chu mountains: Ancient kingdom of Chu (704-223 BC) that included the current provinces of Hunan and Hubei, and parts of several others.
Hui countryside: Lands of the now ethnic minority of Hui. Includes portions of the provinces of Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang.