宦游直送江入海。
聞道潮頭一丈高,
My native town lies where the River takes its source, As official I go downstream to the seaside.
天寒尚有沙痕在。
中泠南畔石盤陀,
'Tis said white-crested waves rise ten feet high at full tide, On this cold day the sand bears traces of their force.
古來出沒隨澇波。
試登絕頂望鄉國,
There stands a massive boulder south of Central Fountain, Emerging or submerged as the tides fall or rise.
江南江北青山多。
羈愁畏晚尋歸楫,
I climb atop to see where my native town lies, But find by riverside green mountain on green mountain.
山僧苦留看落日。
微風萬頃靴文細,
Home-sick, I will go back by boat lest I be late, But the monk begs me to stay and view the setting sun.
斷霞半空魚尾赤。
是時江月初生魄,
The breeze ripples the water and fine webs are spun; Rosy clouds in mid-air like fish-tails undulate.
二更月落天深黑。
江心似有炬火明,
Then the moon on the river sheds her new-born light, By second watch she sinks into the darkened skies.
飛焰照山栖烏驚。
悵然歸臥心莫識,
From the heart of the river a torch seems to rise, Its flames light up the mountains and the crows take flight.
非鬼非人竟何物。
江山如此不歸山,
Bewildered, I come back and go to bed, lost in thought: It’s not a work of man or ghost. Then what is it?
江神見怪警我頑。
我謝江神豈得已,
It must be the River God’s warning for me to quit And go to my home-town, which I can’t set at nought.
有田不歸如江水!
Thanking the God, I say I’m reluctant to stay,