FAREWELL TO A FRIEND

Li Bai

(Tang Dynasty)

Blue mountains bar the northern sky;

White river girds the eastern town.

Here is the place to say goodbye;

You'll drift like lonely thistledown.

With floating cloud you'll float away;

Like parting day I'll part from you.

You wave your hand and go your way;

Your steed still neighs, "Adieu, adieu!"

送友人

[唐]李白

青山横北郭,

白水绕东城。

此地一为别,

孤蓬万里征。

浮云游子意,

落日故人情。

挥手自兹去,

萧萧班马鸣。

About the poet 

Li Bai was one of China's most acclaimed poets of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). He was also known for his close friendship to another great literati Du Fu.

About the translator 

Xu Yuanchong (1921-2021) was born in Nanchang in East China's Jiangxi Province. He was a professor of literary translation at Peking University.

About the book 

300 Tang Poems Translated by Xu Yuanchong Published by China Intercontinental Press