At dusk we walk hand in hand on the river bridge,
Holding wine, lingering as the slanting sun fades.
Life entails parting, each to a different ridge,
The ancients sighed this joy is hard to evade.
In Daliang's youthful playgrounds we once played,
Spring winds swayed branches where orioles' songs cascade.
Seasons decline, the year's end is near,
From south of the river, I climbed to your hall sincere.
Autumn's breath stirs, I hear the cold cicada's call,
How few our meetings, now parting stretches tall.
With you I observe change, words forgotten we share,
Singing loudly, we set sail into the vast air.
Green algae prick the eye, red lotus fragrance rare,
Lake moon flies at night, sleeves cool in the air.
Together we feast, singing on the Hu bed,
Your words like brocade, I invite a verse in return.
Your heart is gentle, yet your will is ironclad,
You won't learn merchant songs beneath an ox, so sad.
Wishing to leave worldly troubles and soar free,
To act on this plan, would it not fine be?
The learning of ancients was vast and profound,
Like sea containing, earth bearing, without bound.
Discarding the man and the chaff,
Imperial achievements are but a tiny staff.
Chasing worldly affairs, one strays far and wide,
No different from Zang and Gu losing sheep they ride.
Following life's course, mid-way we're hurt and torn,
Stopping, I know it ends in being forlorn.
I've heard this too but cannot act,
Sighing, no strategy to hide the fact.
My body follows food and clothes to Nanyang's land,
To free myself, I must while still strong stand.
Not waiting till teeth sparse, hair gray and old,
Leisurely on Hao's banks, like Hui and Zhuang of old,
In friendship, none rivals you, so I am told.