POEM: Watching a farewell by Wang Wei (Wang Youcheng) - circa 699-761

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Another poem connected, in my mind, with the world today; though this is even older. It comes from one of the booklets published for Penguin books 80th anniversary.

From #9 in the series: Three Tang Dynasty Poets, this is by Wang Wei (Wang Youcheng) circa 699-761. The theme of this one is flavoured with scenes I imagine taking place all over the world every day; that of families being sundered, possibly never to be mended.

Watching a farewell

Green green the willowed road
The road where they are separating
A loved son off for far provinces
Old parents left at home

He must go or they could not live
But his going revives their grief
A charge to his brothers - gently
A word to the neighbours - softly
A last drink at the gates
And then he takes leave of his friends

Tears dried, he must catch up his companions
Swallowing grief, he sets his carriage in motion
At last the carriage passes out of sight
But still at times there's dust thrown up from the road

I too, long ago, said good-bye to my family
And when I see this, my handkerchief is wet with tears.



Goddess watch over us all,



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