Li Bai, "On the Ferry: A Farewell to Jingmen"
by Frank Watson

The poem was written on a boat trip along the Yangtze river, when Li Bai was 26-years-old. He bid farewell to the family and went on a long trip, ready to explore the world.

Translation


Li Bai (701-762 AD)
李白
On the Ferry: A Farewell to Jingmen
渡荊門送別


The ferry’s leaving Jingmen
渡遠荊門外
On its journey to the southern sun.
來從楚國遊
I follow the peaks and boundless plains
山隨平野盡
To reach the river’s running veins.
江入大荒流
The moon sinks in the mirror sky
月下飛天鏡
To join the clouds and towers in the ocean dye.
雲生結海樓
I’m thousands of miles away, on a traveling boat,
仍憐故鄉水
But on my native waters, I still see it float.
萬里送行舟



Original Chinese


Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation



李白
李白
Lǐ Bái
渡荊門送別
渡荆门送别
Dù jīng mén sòng bié



渡遠荊門外，
渡远荆门外，
Dù yuǎn jīng mén wài,
來從楚國遊。
来从楚国游。
Lái cóng chu guó yóu.
山隨平野盡，
山随平野尽，
Shān suí píng yě jǐn,
江入大荒流。
江入大荒流。
Jiāng rù dà huāng liú.
月下飛天鏡，
月下飞天镜，
Yuè xià fēi tiān jìng,
雲生結海樓。
云生结海楼。
Yún shēng jié hǎi lóu.
仍憐故鄉水，
仍怜故乡水，
Réng lián gù xiāng shuǐ,
萬里送行舟。
万里送行舟。
Wàn lǐ sòng xíng zhōu.


Literal Notes

李白
Plum White=Li Bai(701-762)
渡荊門送別
Ferry Jing Men Send-Off Depart


渡遠荊門外，
Ferry distant Jing Men outside
來從楚國遊。
Come from Chu Kingdom travel
[Chu Kingdom = an ancient kingdom in the south of China]
山隨平野盡，
Mountain follow plain field limits
江入大荒流。
River enter big countryside float
月下飛天鏡，
Moon fall fly sky mirror
雲生結海樓。
Clouds born tie sea towers
[Sea towers = an idiom meaning “a mirage.”]
仍憐故鄉水，
Keep pity old village water
萬里送行舟。
Thousand miles dispatched go boat.



All writings and translations are Copyright © by Frank Watson, also writing as "Blue Flute" (2011-2014).
Year: 
2013