[updated September 2022]
Depart From Suzhou
别 苏 州
浩 浩 姑 苏 民
郁 郁 长 洲 城。
来 惭 荷 宠 命
去 愧 无 能 名。
青 紫 行 将 吏
班 白 列 黎 氓。
一 时 临 水 拜
十 里 随 舟 行。
饯 筵 犹 未 收
征 棹 不 可 停。
稍 隔 烟 树 色
尚 闻 丝 竹 声。
怅 望 武 丘 路
沉 吟 浒 水 亭。
还 乡 信 有 兴
去 郡 能 无 情？
Bie Su Zhou
Hao hao gu su min
Yu yu chang zhou cheng.
Lai can he chong ming
Qu kui wu neng ming.
Qing zi xing jiang li
Ban bai lie li meng.
Yi shi lin shui bai
Shi li sui zhou xing.
Jian yan you wei shou
Zheng zhao bu ke ting.
Shao ge yan shu se
Xiang wen si zhu sheng.
Chang wang wu qiu lu
Chen yin hu shui ting.
Huan xiang xin you xing
Qu jun neng wu qing?
Depart From Suzhou
Vast and grand reckons the Suzhou people
High literary graces, long islets by the city walls.
Arrive and feel ashamed lotus dotes on its destiny
With shame go out without achieving a name.
Green and purple travel for a petty official
White grade lined up with the multitude of commoners.
One season to overlook a river ceremony
Three miles adapted to boat travel.
Farewell banquet dinners yet to gather
Make a non-stop long journey on the waters.
Small layers of tree mists form
Towards them hear silk and bamboo sounds.
With sorrow gaze into the distance, military mounds along the highways
Recite poems in a low voice in riverside pavilions.
Have to begin a letter about returning to my hometown
Leave this prefecture without having emotions?
Notes:
Green, purple and white grades: The different levels of the ancient Chinese bureaucracy used a different color for each level.
Commentary:
Bai Juyi is leaving the wonderful city of Suzhou after serving his government position there.