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Guide to Bewildered Spirits: A Skiff Rolled Lightly
English Poetic Translation
A single skiff has furled its light-weight sail,
And moored awhile upon the southern bank of Chu.
A lonely citadel at dusk lets fall a horn's complaint,
While nomad flutes awaken sorrow through the failing air.
The water stretches vast and grey;
Across the level bars of sand, startled wild geese suddenly disperse.
Mists gather round the clustering cold woods,
Like folding painted screens unfurled.
Against the utmost rim of sky, the distant mountains dwindle small,
As faint and slender as a lady's darkened brow.
All former joys are lightly cast away;
This journey brings me to an official's lonely exile track.
I feel the weary labor of the traveler's road,
As daylight fades and autumn years decline.
Amidst strange regional domains, how can I bear such desolation,
With eyes that only gaze upon despair?
The imperial capital is far away, the pleasure towers barred;
My wandering soul is tangled in distress.
Fragrant grasses stretch across the empty, boundless waste,
While slanting sunset rays fill up the earth.
From her I love, no tidings come;
Only broken clouds drift far away.
And moored awhile upon the southern bank of Chu.
A lonely citadel at dusk lets fall a horn's complaint,
While nomad flutes awaken sorrow through the failing air.
The water stretches vast and grey;
Across the level bars of sand, startled wild geese suddenly disperse.
Mists gather round the clustering cold woods,
Like folding painted screens unfurled.
Against the utmost rim of sky, the distant mountains dwindle small,
As faint and slender as a lady's darkened brow.
All former joys are lightly cast away;
This journey brings me to an official's lonely exile track.
I feel the weary labor of the traveler's road,
As daylight fades and autumn years decline.
Amidst strange regional domains, how can I bear such desolation,
With eyes that only gaze upon despair?
The imperial capital is far away, the pleasure towers barred;
My wandering soul is tangled in distress.
Fragrant grasses stretch across the empty, boundless waste,
While slanting sunset rays fill up the earth.
From her I love, no tidings come;
Only broken clouds drift far away.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
一葉扁舟輕帆卷。
暫泊楚江南岸。
孤城暮角，引胡茄怨。
水茫茫，平沙雁、旋驚散。
煙斂寒林簇，畫屏展。
天際遙山小，黛眉淺。
舊賞輕拋，到此成遊宦。
覺客程勞，年光晚。
異鄉風物，忍蕭索、當愁眼。
帝城賒，秦樓阻，旅魂亂。
芳草連空闊，殘照滿。
佳人無消息，斷雲遠。
暫泊楚江南岸。
孤城暮角，引胡茄怨。
水茫茫，平沙雁、旋驚散。
煙斂寒林簇，畫屏展。
天際遙山小，黛眉淺。
舊賞輕拋，到此成遊宦。
覺客程勞，年光晚。
異鄉風物，忍蕭索、當愁眼。
帝城賒，秦樓阻，旅魂亂。
芳草連空闊，殘照滿。
佳人無消息，斷雲遠。
Philological Direct Translation
One-leaf flat boat light sail rolled.
Temporarily moored Chu river southern bank.
Lonely city dusk horn, draws barbarian reed-pipe lament.
Water boundless, level sand geese, suddenly startled scatter.
Mist gathers cold forest clusters, painted screen unfolds.
Heaven fringe distant mountains small, dark moth-eyebrows shallow.
Old pleasures lightly cast aside, arriving here becoming traveling official.
Feeling traveler journey laborious, year light late.
Different village wind things, how bear desolate, facing sorrowful eyes.
Imperial city distant, Qin towers blocked, traveler soul chaotic.
Fragrant grass connects empty vastness, lingering radiance fills.
Beauty without news, severed clouds distant.
Temporarily moored Chu river southern bank.
Lonely city dusk horn, draws barbarian reed-pipe lament.
Water boundless, level sand geese, suddenly startled scatter.
Mist gathers cold forest clusters, painted screen unfolds.
Heaven fringe distant mountains small, dark moth-eyebrows shallow.
Old pleasures lightly cast aside, arriving here becoming traveling official.
Feeling traveler journey laborious, year light late.
Different village wind things, how bear desolate, facing sorrowful eyes.
Imperial city distant, Qin towers blocked, traveler soul chaotic.
Fragrant grass connects empty vastness, lingering radiance fills.
Beauty without news, severed clouds distant.