Li Bai wrote this poem in 754 while saying goodbye to a good friend in Xuanzheng. The Shuiyang River still encircles what remains of the city's east wall.
Seeing a Friend Off
By Li Bai
Translated by A.Z. Foreman
Beyond the north wall dark green mountains stretch
Round the east city the clear white river flows1
Once we two have parted in this place
Lone tumbleweed has thousands of miles to blow
A drifting cloud: the mind of a traveler
Sinking sun: the mood of old friends going
We wave our hands taking leave from here
Our hesitant horses in parting neigh and moan
Notes:
1- Chinese cities were usually protected by two sets of walls: an inner one, made of stone, and an outer rampart made of rammed earth. Kept between these two was enough farmland to keep the town supplied with food in the event of a siege. It was customary for friends to say their goodbyes at the outer rampart.
The Original:
Seeing a Friend Off
By Li Bai
Translated by A.Z. Foreman
Beyond the north wall dark green mountains stretch
Round the east city the clear white river flows1
Once we two have parted in this place
Lone tumbleweed has thousands of miles to blow
A drifting cloud: the mind of a traveler
Sinking sun: the mood of old friends going
We wave our hands taking leave from here
Our hesitant horses in parting neigh and moan
Notes:
1- Chinese cities were usually protected by two sets of walls: an inner one, made of stone, and an outer rampart made of rammed earth. Kept between these two was enough farmland to keep the town supplied with food in the event of a siege. It was customary for friends to say their goodbyes at the outer rampart.
The Original:
| Han Characters 送友人 李白 青山橫北郭， 白水繞東城， 此地一為別， 孤蓬萬里征. 浮雲遊子意， 落日故人情， 揮手自茲去， 蕭蕭班馬鳴。 | Medieval Chinese sùng1b ghóu3b nyen3b lí3d beik2a tsheing4 sran2b ghweing2a pek1 kwak1 beik2a sywí3c nyàu3 tung1b dzyeing3b tshí3b drì3c et3by ghwi3bx bat3bx kuo1 bung1b màn3a lí3d tsyeing3b bou3b ghwen3a you3b tsí3d ì3d lak1 nyet3b kùo1 nyen3b dzeing3b hwi3a syóu3b dzì3c tsi3d khùo3b sau4 sau4 pan2a má2 meing3a | Modern Chinese Sòng yǒurén Libái. Qīngshān héng běi guō, Báishuǐ rào dōngchéng, Cǐdì yī wéi bié, Gū péng wàn lǐ zhēng; Fúyún yóuzǐ yì, Luòrì gùrén qíng, Huīshǒu zì zī qù, Xiāoxiāo bān mǎmíng. |
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