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176 高適 送李少府貶峽中王少府貶長沙 translation: Seeing off Deputy Prefect Li, Demoted to Xiazhong, and Deputy Prefect Wang, Demoted to Changsha

This is a translation and annotation of the poem 送李少府貶峽中王少府貶長沙 (Sòng Lǐ Shàofǔ Biǎn Xiázhōng Wáng Shàofǔ Biǎn Chángshā), “Seeing off Deputy Prefect Li, Demoted to Xiazhong, and Deputy Prefect Wang, Demoted to Changsha”, by the Tang dynasty poet 高適 (Gāo Shì). The poem is #176 in the collection 300 Tang Poems.

送李少府貶峽中王少府貶長沙 Sòng Lǐ Shàofǔ Biǎn Xiázhōng Wáng Shàofǔ Biǎn Chángshā [send] [Li] [lesser] [prefect] [demote] [gorge] [middle] [Wang] [lesser] [prefect] [demote] [long] [sand] Seeing off Deputy Prefect Li, Demoted to Xiazhong, and Deputy Prefect Wang, Demoted to Changsha

嗟君此別意何如， jiē jūn cǐ bié yì hé rú [alas] [lord] [this] [parting] [feeling] [what] [resemble] Ah, sirs, at this parting — your feelings, what are they?

駐馬銜桮問謫居。 zhù mǎ xián bēi wèn zhé jū [stop] [horse] [hold] [cup] [ask] [banish] [dwell] reining in the horse, holding the cup — one asks of the exile residence. 謫居 refers to a place of dwelling after exile.

巫峽啼猿數行淚， wū xiá tí yuán shù háng lèi [shaman] [gorge] [cry] [ape] [several] [line] [tear] At Wu Gorge, howling apes, several streams of tears;

衡陽歸雁幾封書。 héng yáng guī yàn jǐ fēng shū [balance] [sun] [return] [goose] [how-many] [seal] [letter] in Hengyang, returning geese — how many missives?

青楓江上秋天遠， qīng fēng jiāng shàng qiū tiān yuǎn [green] [maple] [river] [upon] [autumn] [sky] [far] On the green maple river, the autumn sky extends afar;

白帝城邊古木疎。 bái dì chéng biān gǔ mù shū [white] [emperor] [city] [side] [ancient] [tree] [sparse] beside Baidi City, ancient trees stand sparse.

聖代即今多雨露， shèng dài jí jīn duō yǔ lù [sage] [era] [just] [now] [many] [rain] [dew] In this wise era now, much rain and dew; 雨露 is a metaphor for imperial benevolence.

暫時分手莫躊躇。 zàn shí fēn shǒu mò chóu chú [temporary] [time] [part] [hand] [do-not] [hesitate] [linger] on a brief parting of hands, do not linger.


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