Gossamer-Like Parting Sorrows Poem by East Sea Fairy Xing Yi

By ZHOU Zizhi(1082-1155) Translated by East-sea Fairy

The parting sorrow
is as intricate as the gossamers floating in the air.
The wanderer is like the catkins of willow,
which flutter everywhere.
When parting, at each other they silently stare
with tearing eyes.
The whole brook thick fog and smoke overbear,
The waterside poplars and willows share countless ties,
However they are unable to make the beauteous boat fixed edgewise.

The wild geese migrate toward the yonder land
in the afterglow.
Think mist and smoke cover the small island,
where the grass and trees are confusing so.
The parting sorrow
by now is on the rise.
so heavy it is that he can't undergo.
Tomorrow it may not his mind occupies
But tonight how can he free himself from its exercise?