赠蔡子笃

翼翼飞鸾，

载飞载东。

我友云徂，

言戾旧邦。

舫舟翩翩，

以泝大江。

蔚矣荒涂，

时行靡通。

慨我怀慕，

君子所同。

悠悠世路，

乱离多阻。

济岱江衡，

邈焉异处。

风流云散，

一别如雨。

人生实难，

愿其弗与。

瞻望遐路，

允企伊伫。

烈烈冬日，

肃肃凄风。

潜鳞在渊，

归雁载轩。

苟非鸿雕，

孰能飞翻？

虽则追慕，

予思罔宣。

瞻望东路，

惨怆增叹。

率彼江流，

爰逝靡期。

君子信誓，

不迁于时。

及子同寮，

生死固之。

何以赠行？

言授斯诗。

中心孔悼，

涕泪涟洏。

嗟尔君子，

如何勿思？

To Cai Zidu

With fluttering wings the phoenix flies,

it flies towards the east.

Now my friend is taking his leave

to return to his old home.

The sail flaps as the boat floats

along the great Yangtze River.

Dense and wild will be your road,

there will be no smooth passage.

How deep is my longing for you,

and I know you feel the same.

Endless are the roads of the world,

obstructed with separations and chaos.

The rivers and mountains in the north and south

are sundered by vast distances.

The wind rises, the clouds scatter,

as we separate like rain from heaven.

Man’s life is truly hard,

we can’t always have our wish.

I gaze along the distant road,

lingering, perched on tiptoe.

Fiercely cold are the winter days,

desolately sighs the wind.

Fish hide themselves in the deep,

returning geese are hovering in the sky.

If one is not a swan or a hawk,

how can one expect to soar?

Even though I want to seek for you,

I f ind no relief from my longing.

I gaze along the eastward road,

and sigh with a sorrowful heart.

You left along the flowing river,

on and on with no sure date of return.

The true oath taken by gentlemen

will never change because of time.

With you I once was a companion,

I will remain one throughout my life and death.

What can I give to you at parting,

except this poem?

Saddened deeply in my heart,

I cannot check my flowing tears.

Ah, such a friend as you are!

How can I not miss you?