In the Northwest There Is a High Tower
In the northwest there is a tall tower, its top level with the drifting clouds.
Cross-barred, the carved and gauze windows; a cornered pavilion on three tiers of steps.
Above there is the sound of stringed song—how mournful the music is!
Who could have made this song? Could it be the wife of Qi Liang?
The clear shang mode rises upon the wind; midway the tune lingers and turns.
One pluck, then thrice repeated sighs—fervent, with a sorrow left over.
I do not grudge the singer's grief; I sorrow only that those who understand are few.
Would that we were a pair of great swans, beating our wings to rise and fly on high.
Reading notes
The birds in the penultimate line also appear as 鸣鹤 (calling cranes), rather than 鸿鹄 (great swans), in another transmitted version. This page retains 鸿鹄.