Seeing Off Subordinates Li and Wang, Both Demoted
English translation and interpretation are being reviewed.
驻马衔杯问谪居。
巫峡啼猿数行泪，
衡阳归雁几封书。
青枫江上秋帆远，
白帝城边古木疏。
圣代即今多雨露，
暂时分手莫踌躇。
English translation
Alas, my friend, at this parting, what are your thoughts? I rein in my horse, cup in hand, and ask of your banishment.
In the Wuxia gorges, gibbons cry: a few lines of tears, from Hengyang, the returning geese: how many letters?
On the Qingfeng River the autumn sail goes far, by the walls of Baidi the ancient trees are sparse.
In a sage age there is abundance of rain and dew, but a brief parting, do not hesitate.
Meaning
At this parting who can tell what thoughts are in your hearts? Dismount and drink the farewell wine, and ask the places to which you are banished.
The gibbons of Wu Gorge wail till tears fall; when you reach Hengyang, bid the wild geese bring me more letters.
In autumn a lonely sail drifts far along the Qingfeng River; beside the White Emperor City the ancient trees tower to the sky, thick with spreading branches.
This is a flourishing age, and the court will surely extend its grace; our parting is only for a while, do not vex yourselves with grief.
Background
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The exact date of this poem is unknown. In the old arrangements it is placed after "Feasting at Pengchi in Early Spring with Cui Sihu of Chenliu"; it is probably a work from Gao Shi's tenure as defender of Fengqiu, written to see off the two county defenders Li and Wang — Shaofu being another name in the Tang for a county defender — who had been demoted and were bound for the south.