Rhymed prose on grass and parting
賦得古原草送別 白居易
離離原上草，一歲一枯榮。
野火燒不盡，春風吹又生。
遠芳侵古道，晴翠接荒城。
又送王孫去，萋萋滿別情。
--
The grass spreads across the plain; each year it withers, then flourishes.
Prairie fires burning don't destroy it - the spring wind brings it back to life.
Far away, its fragrance invades ancient roads, clear jade green overruns ruined towns.
Again I send off my noble friend, the luxuriant grass and my parting feelings run together.
---
Bai (Bo) Juyi. Fourth line is wonky, and while I understand the intent (my feelings are like the grass, spreading everywhere and unending), I just caaaan't quite get it to come out right with what's provided, even reading the footnotes in my edition of his selected poems. So that last sentence is me taking poetic license (am I allowed to do that at this stage? Wait, I'm not a poet!) I almost love reading the explanatory notes in the Chinese editions more than the poems. Here's the baihua translation for the fourth line: 我在此時此地，又有送別您離去，我的別情一如這萋萋的春草，無邊無際，充滿天地啊！
The 啊 really makes it, IMHO. ;)
離離原上草，一歲一枯榮。
野火燒不盡，春風吹又生。
遠芳侵古道，晴翠接荒城。
又送王孫去，萋萋滿別情。
--
The grass spreads across the plain; each year it withers, then flourishes.
Prairie fires burning don't destroy it - the spring wind brings it back to life.
Far away, its fragrance invades ancient roads, clear jade green overruns ruined towns.
Again I send off my noble friend, the luxuriant grass and my parting feelings run together.
---
Bai (Bo) Juyi. Fourth line is wonky, and while I understand the intent (my feelings are like the grass, spreading everywhere and unending), I just caaaan't quite get it to come out right with what's provided, even reading the footnotes in my edition of his selected poems. So that last sentence is me taking poetic license (am I allowed to do that at this stage? Wait, I'm not a poet!) I almost love reading the explanatory notes in the Chinese editions more than the poems. Here's the baihua translation for the fourth line: 我在此時此地，又有送別您離去，我的別情一如這萋萋的春草，無邊無際，充滿天地啊！
The 啊 really makes it, IMHO. ;)