BOOKMARK
To bookmark this poem:
Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or ⌘ + D (Mac).
Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or ⌘ + D (Mac).
Night-Flying Magpie: Parting at the River Bridge
English Poetic Translation
Where river bridges bridge the parting hour,
how deep and chill the night has grown.
A slant moon spills its waning power,
while melting bronze tears drop alone.
The fine cold dews soak through my gown.
We scatter from the sad farewell,
while ferry drums upon the wind are blown,
and banner stars above the treetops dwell.
My noble steed knows well this mood,
though whips are raised, it paces slow.
Across the barren, winding solitude,
no human voices rise below;
I bear my sorrow home alone in woe.
How sudden petals carpet all the ground,
no fallen hairpins can be found,
and every twisting pathway is obscured.
Wild oats and mallow, by the dying sun,
grow high as men while day is done.
I pace the grass where we conferr'd,
and pour a parting cup to heaven's rim,
straining my gaze into the western dim.
how deep and chill the night has grown.
A slant moon spills its waning power,
while melting bronze tears drop alone.
The fine cold dews soak through my gown.
We scatter from the sad farewell,
while ferry drums upon the wind are blown,
and banner stars above the treetops dwell.
My noble steed knows well this mood,
though whips are raised, it paces slow.
Across the barren, winding solitude,
no human voices rise below;
I bear my sorrow home alone in woe.
How sudden petals carpet all the ground,
no fallen hairpins can be found,
and every twisting pathway is obscured.
Wild oats and mallow, by the dying sun,
grow high as men while day is done.
I pace the grass where we conferr'd,
and pour a parting cup to heaven's rim,
straining my gaze into the western dim.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
河橋送人處，涼夜何其。
斜月遠墮餘輝。
銅盤燭淚已流盡，霏霏涼露沾衣。
相將散離會，探風前津鼓，樹杪參旗。
華驄會意，縱揚鞭、亦自行遲。
迢遞路回清野，人語漸無聞，空帶愁歸。
何意重紅滿地，遺鈿不見，斜徑都迷。
兔葵燕麥，向殘陽、欲與人齊。
但徘徊班草，欷酹酒，極望天西。
斜月遠墮餘輝。
銅盤燭淚已流盡，霏霏涼露沾衣。
相將散離會，探風前津鼓，樹杪參旗。
華驄會意，縱揚鞭、亦自行遲。
迢遞路回清野，人語漸無聞，空帶愁歸。
何意重紅滿地，遺鈿不見，斜徑都迷。
兔葵燕麥，向殘陽、欲與人齊。
但徘徊班草，欷酹酒，極望天西。
Philological Direct Translation
At the river bridge where people are seen off, how late the cool night is.
The slanted moon distantly falls with remaining radiance.
In the bronze pan the candle tears have already flowed out, fine cool dews wet garments.
Together we scatter from the parting gathering, listening to the ferry drum before the wind, the three stars flags at the tree tips.
The fine steed understands the mood, even if one lifts the whip, it also walks slowly by itself.
Stretching far the road turns through the clear wild, human voices gradually become unheard, emptily bearing sorrow back.
How unexpected petals fill the ground, lost hairpins cannot be seen, slanted paths are all obscured.
Rabbit mallow and wild oats, toward the setting sun, are about to become as tall as a person.
Only pacing back and forth on the pulled grass, offering a libation of wine with sighs, gazing utmost toward the western sky.
The slanted moon distantly falls with remaining radiance.
In the bronze pan the candle tears have already flowed out, fine cool dews wet garments.
Together we scatter from the parting gathering, listening to the ferry drum before the wind, the three stars flags at the tree tips.
The fine steed understands the mood, even if one lifts the whip, it also walks slowly by itself.
Stretching far the road turns through the clear wild, human voices gradually become unheard, emptily bearing sorrow back.
How unexpected petals fill the ground, lost hairpins cannot be seen, slanted paths are all obscured.
Rabbit mallow and wild oats, toward the setting sun, are about to become as tall as a person.
Only pacing back and forth on the pulled grass, offering a libation of wine with sighs, gazing utmost toward the western sky.