English中文
A Letter from Home in the Capital
江水三千里
Across three thousand li of rivers,
家书十五行
Fifteen lines in a letter from home.
行行无别语
Line upon line says nothing else:
只道早还乡
Only, come back home soon.
Meaning
Across a long river journey comes a short family letter. Every line repeats the wish that the traveler return soon. Repetition makes the longing feel close and personal. Li is a traditional Chinese unit of distance.
About the poet
Yuan Kai was a Ming poet. Repeated words in a brief letter bring distant family care close.