After the separation of death one can eventually swallow back one's grief, but <br />the separation of the living is an endless, unappeasable anxiety. From <br />pestilent Chiang-nan no news arrives of the poor exile. That my old friend <br />should come into my dream shows how constantly he is in my thoughts. I fear <br />that this is not the soul of a living man: the journey is so immeasurably far. <br />When your soul left, the maple woods were green: on its return the passes were <br />black with night. Lying now enmeshed in the net of the law, how did you find <br />wings with which to fly here? The light of the sinking moon illumines every <br />beam and rafter of my chamber, and I half expect it to light up your face. The <br />water is deep, the waves are wide: don't let the water-dragons get you. <br /> <br />All day long the floating clouds drift by, and still the wanderer has not <br />arrived! For three nights running I have repeatedly dreamed of you. Such <br />affectionate concern on your part shows your feelings for me! Each time you <br />said goodbye you seemed so uneasy. `It isn't easy to come', you would say <br />bitterly; `The waters are so rough. I am afriad the boat will capsize!' Going <br />out of my door you scratched your white head as if your whole life's ambition <br />had been frustrated. <br /> The Capital is full of new officials, yet a man like this is so wretched! <br />Who is going to tell me that the `net is wide' when this ageing man <br />remains in difficulties? Imperishable renown is cold comfort when you can only <br />enjoy it in the tomb!<br /><br />Tu Fu<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dreaming-of-li-po/
