[updated October 2022]
Xuanzhou’s Xietiao Tower, Farewell Dinner to Editor and Uncle Yun
宣 州 谢 脁 楼 饯 别 校 书 叔 云
弁 我 去 者 昨 日
之 日 不 可 留。
乱 我 心 者 今 日
之 日 多 烦 忧。
长 风 万 里 送 秋 雁
对 此 以 酣 高 楼。
蓬 莱 文 章 建 安 骨
中 间 小 谢 又 清 发。
俱 怀 逸 兴 壮 思 飞
欲 上 青 天 览 明 月！
抽 刀 断 水 更 流
举 杯 消 愁 愁 更 愁。
人 生 在 世 不 称 意
明 朝 散 发 弄 扁 舟。
Xuan Zhou Xie Tiao Lou Jian Bie Jiao Shu Shu Yun
Bian wo qu zhe zuo ri
Zhi ri bu ke liu
Luan wo xin zhe jin ri
Zhi ri duo fan you.
Chang feng wan li song qiu yan
Dui ci yi han gao lou.
Peng lai wen zhang jian an gu
Zhong jian xiao xie you qing fa.
Ju huai yi xing zhuang si fei
Yu shang qing tian lan ming yue!
Chou dao duan shui geng liu
Ju bei xiao chou chou geng chou
Ren sheng zai shi bu chen yi
Ming zhao san fa nong pian zhou.
Xuanzhou’s Xietiao Tower, Farewell Dinner to Editor and Uncle Yun
Yesterday we were sent away
These past days are over and done
Today I still have a confused heart-mind
The sun sets on remaining worries and anxieties.
Long winds send autumn geese from thousands of miles away
Merrily drink to cope under this tall tower.
Your writing style has the character and framework of a Penglai culture, with the strength of the Three Kingdoms
I write like a smaller version of Xie Lingyun
Our minds and hearts in leisure promotes sudden flights of imagination
Desire to soar above the blue sky to view the bright moonlight!
Removing a knife blade from the water increases the flow
Raising our cups means worries disappear, but at departure they return more than before
We came into this society not a match for our desires
With the brightness of dawn, I leave on a small boat untied and free.
Notes:
Xuanzhou: Ancient settlement within the modern-day city of Xuancheng, southeast Anhui Province.
Xietiao Tower: Built by mayor and poet Xie Tiao around 500 AD.
Penglai: Legendary and mythological island that is home to the Chinese immortals.
Three Kingdoms: (220-280 AD) The period of time between the Han and Jin Dynasties. Consisted of the three states Wei, Shu, and Wu.
Xie Lingyun: (385-433) Eastern Jin Dynasty poet and official famous for his mountains and rivers (landscape) style of poetry. His biographical information and some of his work may appear on this website in the future.