Liu Yun's "Song of the River South"
by Frank Watson
Translation

Song of the River South

By Liu Yun

Islet in a stream, gathering the duckweed white,

A spring sun sets above the southern river.

The Dongting River has a returning guest,

The Xiaoxiang River comes across an old friend.

Old friend, why not return?

Spring flowers abound to answer the night.

There is no new path to happiness

But words and actions on a distant road.



Original Chinese


Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation



柳惲
柳恽
Liǔ yùn
江南曲
江南曲
Jiāng nán qū



汀洲采白蘋，
汀洲采白苹，
Tīng zhōu cǎi bái píng，
日落江南春。
日落江南春。
Rì luò jiāng nán chūn。
洞庭有歸客，
洞庭有归客，
Dòng tíng yǒu guī kè，

瀟湘逢故人。
潇湘逢故人。
Xiāo xiāng féng gù rén。
故人何不返，
故人何不返，
Gù rén hé bù fǎn，

春華復應晚。
春华复应晚。
Chūn huá fù yīng wǎn。
不道新知樂，
不道新知乐，
Bù dào xīn zhī lè，

隻言行路遠。
只言行路远。
Zhī yán xíng lù yuǎn。


Literal Notes


柳惲
Willow-tree Plan [= Liu Yun (465-517)]
江南曲
River South Song

[River South = Sunny South]


汀洲采白蘋，
Sandbar islet gather white apple

[Sandbar islet = islet in a river], [white apple = white duckweed]
日落江南春。
Sun fall river south spring
洞庭有歸客，
Cave courtyard have return guest

[Cave courtyard = Dongting River]
瀟湘逢故人。
Sound-of-beating-wind-and-rain Hunan-province come-upon old man

[Sound-of-beating-wind-and-rain Hunan-province = Xiaoxiang River], [old man = old friend]
故人何不返，
Old man where no return

[where no = why not?]
春華復應晚。
Spring flowery repeatedly answer night

不道新知樂，
No path new know joy
隻言行路遠。
Single word go road distant

[word go = words and actions, what one says and does]

All writings and translations are Copyright © by Frank Watson, also writing as "Blue Flute" (2011-2014).
Year: 
2012