[updated October 2022]
Use This Poem Instead of a Letter to Reply to Yuan Danqiu
以 诗 代 书 答 元 丹 丘
青 鸟 海 上 来
今 朝 发 何 处？
口 衔 云 锦 字
与 我 忽 飞 去。
鸟 去 凌 紫 烟
书 留 绮 窗 前。
开 缄 方 一 笑
乃 是 故 人 传。
故 人 深 相 勖
忆 我 劳 心 曲。
离 居 在 咸 阳
三 见 秦 草 绿。
置 书 双 袂 间
引 领 不 暂 闲
长 望 杳 难 见
浮 云 横 远 山。
Yi Shi Dai Shu Da Yuan Dan Qiu
Qing niao hai shang lai
Jin zhao fa he chu?
Kou xian yun jin zi
Yu wo hu fei qu.
Niao qu ling zi yan
Shu liu qi chuang qian.
Kai jian fang yi xiao
Nai shi gu ren chuan.
Gu ren shen xiang xu
Yi wo lao xin qu.
Li ju zai xian yang
San jian qin cao lu.
Zhi shu shuang mei jian
Yin ling bu zan xian.
Chang wang yao nan jian
Fu yun heng yuan shan.
Use This Poem Instead of a Letter to Reply to Yuan Danqiu
In the beginning, the bird of paradise from the ocean
At dawn, where did it go?
It carries in its mouth only brocade like words sunny and bright
To me it gives these words, then suddenly departs.
Departs into the lofty purple mists
In my window, left behind an exquisite document.
Open up the seal, a smile appears
Only then realize these expressions are from an old friend.
Old friends deeply encourage each other
Recall your heart-mind songs appreciate me.
You departed from the palace, live nearby in Xianyang
Three times see the Qin grasses turn green.
Your letters I hold in my sleeves, close to my chest
Stretch my neck, for a long time miss you.
Gaze into the distance, difficult to see you
Only floating clouds from east to west, and the distant, remote mountains.
Notes:
Xiangyang: A city in central Shaanxi Province, just upstream on the Wei River from the capital city of Chang’an.
Qin state: (897-207 BC) Nation state in the western regions of China.