Meng Haoran: With Government Official Bai, Travel By River to His House

 

[updated September 2022]

 

With Government Official Bai, Travel By River to His House

 

与 白 明 府 游 江
故 人 来 自 远
邑 幸 复 初 临。
执 手 恨 为 别
同 舟 无 异 心。
沿 洄 洲 渚 趣
衍 漾 弦 歌 音。
谁 识 躬 耕 者
年 年 粮 甫 吟。
Yu Bai Ming Fu You Jiang

Gu ren lai zi yuan
Yi xing fu chu lin.
Zhi shou hen wei bie
Tong zhou wu yi xin.

Yan hui zhou zhu qu
Yan yang xian ge yin.
Shei shi gong geng zhe
Nian nian liang fu yin.

 

With Government Official Bai, Travel By River to His House

Arrive by myself to visit a secluded old friend
First time for you and I back in the city of Xing.
Holding each other’s hand, regret our departure
Same boat, same heart and mind.

Interesting to follow the river as it undulates around an islet
The sounds of ripples, like the chords of an orchestra.
Who remembers and honors the tillers of the earth
Every year they only hear the sad poetry of lament.