温庭筠: 利洲南渡/ wen tingyun: near the lizhou ferry

利洲南渡

温庭筠

澹然空水对斜晖， 曲岛苍茫接翠微。

波上马嘶看棹去， 柳边人歇待船归。

数丛沙草群鸥散， 万顷江田一鹭飞。

谁解乘舟寻范蠡？ 五湖烟水独忘机。

　

near the lizhou ferry

wen tingyun

the sun has set in the water's clear void,

and little blue islands are one with the sky.

on the bank a horse neighs. a boat goes by.

people gather at a willow- clump and wait for the ferry.

down by the sand-bushes sea-gulls are circling,

over the wide river-lands flies an egret.

...can you guess why i sail, like an ancient wise lover,

through the misty five lakes, forgetting words?