Climbing Phoenix Terrace at Jinling
English translation and interpretation are being reviewed.
凤去台空江自流。
吴宫花草埋幽径，
晋代衣冠成古丘。
三山半落青天外，
二水中分白鹭洲。
总为浮云能蔽日，
长安不见使人愁。
English translation
On Phoenix Terrace the phoenixes once roamed, the phoenixes are gone, the terrace empty, the river flows on.
The flowers and grass of the Wu palace bury the hidden paths, the caps and gowns of the Jin have become ancient mounds.
Three hills half-sunken beyond the blue sky, two streams divide White Egret Isle.
Always it is the drifting clouds that can hide the sun, and not seeing Chang'an makes a man sorrowful.
Meaning
On the Phoenix Terrace phoenixes once came to roam; the phoenixes are gone, the terrace is empty, and only the river still flows on.
The flowers and fragrant grass of the Wu palace hide the deserted paths, and how many princes of the Jin dynasty now lie in ruined mounds.
The Three Mountains half show through the mist like clumps of green beyond the sky, and the river is split in two by Egret Islet.
Those drifting clouds always veil the sun's brightness, and climbing high I cannot see the city of Chang'an — how should my heart not ache with grief?
Background
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The circumstances in which "Climbing the Phoenix Terrace at Jinling" was written are variously reported. One account says it was composed during the Tianbao era (the reign title of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, 742–756), when the author, pushed aside, left Chang'an and travelled south to Jinling. Another says it was written after the author was pardoned while being exiled to Yelang and had returned. There are also those who say that Li Bai visited Yellow Crane Tower and wished to rival Cui Hao's "Yellow Crane Tower."