Separation by death must finally be choked down,
but separation in life is a long anguish,
Chiang-nan is a pestilential land;
no word from you there in exile.
You have been in my dreams, old friend,
as if knowing how much I miss you.
Caught in a net,
how is it you still have wings?
I fear you are no longer mortal;
the distance to here is enormous.
When your spirit came, the maples were green;
when it went, the passes were black.
The setting moon spills light on the rafters;
for a moment I think it's your face.
The waters are deep, the waves wide;
don't let the river gods take you.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Tu Fu (Du Fu) and Li Po (Li Bai) : two of the greatest classical Chinese poets, along with the most famous Taoist poet, Lao Tzu (Lao Tse) . Li Po's poetry shows a generous free-spirit, celebrating unorthodox perceptions of life..