韦应物

初发扬子寄元大校书

凄凄去亲爱， 泛泛入烟雾；

归棹洛阳人， 残钟广陵树。

今朝为此别， 何处还相遇？

世事波上舟， 沿洄安得住。

Five-character-ancient-verse

Wei Yingwu

SETTING SAIL ON THE YANGZI

TO SECRETARY YUAN

Wistful, away from my friends and kin,

Through mist and fog I float and float

With the sail that bears me toward Loyang.

In Yangzhou trees linger bell-notes of evening,

Marking the day and the place of our parting……

When shall we meet again and where？

……Destiny is a boat on the waves,

Borne to and fro, beyond our will.