Seeing Li Bai in A Dream I
- Poetry of Du Fu

《梦李白·其一》

English Rendering

There are sobs when death is the cause of parting;

But life has its partings again and again.

...From the poisonous damps of the southern river

You had sent me not one sign from your exile --

Till you came to me last night in a dream,

Because I am always thinking of you.

I wondered if it were really you,

Venturing so long a journey.

You came to me through the green of a forest,

You disappeared by a shadowy fortress....

Yet out of the midmost mesh of your snare,

How could you lift your wings and use them?

...I woke, and the low moon's glimmer on a rafter

Seemed to be your face, still floating in the air.

...There were waters to cross, they were wild and tossing;

If you fell, there were dragons and rivermonsters.

Seeing Li Bai in A Dream I by Du Fu
Seeing Li Bai in A Dream I by Du Fu

Original Text (中文原文)

死别已吞声,生别常恻恻。

江南瘴疠地,逐客无消息。

故人入我梦,明我常相忆。

君今在罗网,何以有羽翼?

恐非平生魂,路远不可测。

魂来枫林青,魂返关塞黑。

落月满屋梁,犹疑照颜色。

水深波浪阔,无使蛟龙得。

Analysis & Context

Five-character-ancient-verse

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