To His Brother Hsing-Chien, Who Was Serving in Tung Ch‘uan

More Translations from the Chinese, by Arthur Waley, [1919], at sacred-texts.com

p. 56

[28] TO HIS BROTHER HSING-CHIEN, WHO WAS SERVING IN TUNG-CH‘UAN

(A.D. 815)

Sullen, sullen, my brows are ever knit;
Silent, silent, my lips will not move.
It is not indeed that I choose to sorrow thus;
If I lift my eyes, who would share my joy?
Last Spring you were called to the West
To carry arms in the lands of Pa and Shu;
And this Spring I was banished to the South
To nurse my sickness on the River's oozy banks.
You are parted from me by six thousand leagues;
In another world, under another sky.
Of ten letters, nine do not reach;
What can I do to open my sad face?
Thirsty men often dream of drink;
Hungry men often dream of food.
Since Spring came, where do my dreams lodge?
Ere my eyes are closed, I have travelled to Tung-ch‘uan.