To Reminder Han Zhu
English translation and interpretation are being reviewed.
身欲奋飞病在床。
美人娟娟隔秋水，
濯足洞庭望八荒。
鸿飞冥冥日月白，
青枫叶赤天雨霜。
玉京群帝集北斗，
或骑麒麟翳凤凰。
芙蓉旌旗烟雾落，
影动倒景摇潇湘。
星宫之君醉琼浆，
羽人稀少不在旁。
似闻昨者赤松子，
恐是汉代韩张良。
昔随刘氏定长安，
帷幄未改神惨伤。
国家成败吾岂敢，
色难腥腐餐枫香。
周南留滞古所惜，
南极老人应寿昌。
美人胡为隔秋水，
焉得置之贡玉堂。
English translation
Today I am unhappy, and think of Yueyang, my body would fly, but illness holds me abed.
The fair one, lovely, is sundered by autumn waters, washing his feet in Dongting, gazing on the eight wilds.
The swan flies into the dark, the sun and moon are white, the green maple's leaves are red, heaven rains down frost.
At the Jade Capital the assembled emperors gather at the Northern Dipper, some ride unicorns, some are shaded by phoenixes.
Lotus banners and pennants fall amid mist and smoke, their shadows stir, their inverted reflections shake over Xiaoxiang.
The lord of the star palace is drunk on jade nectar, the feathered immortals are few, and not beside him.
It seems I heard that yesterday it was Master Chisong, perhaps it is Zhang Liang of the house of Han.
Of old he followed the Liu and settled Chang'an, the council tent is unchanged, but his spirit is wounded.
The success or failure of the state, how dare I speak of it? It is hard to turn from the rank and rotten, and eat of maple fragrance.
That he should be detained in Zhou'nan was lamented of old, and the Old Man of the South Pole should know long life.
Why must the fair one be sundered by autumn waters? How might we place him, and present him at the Jade Hall?
Meaning
My heart is heavy with gloom as I think of Yueyang; I long to spread my wings and fly, yet I toss and turn upon a sickbed.
The one I long for, far beyond the autumn waters, is so fair: you bathe your feet by Dongting Lake, and gaze toward the four quarters.
Wild geese fly into the distant high sky; the bright sun and moon pour forth their radiance. The autumn wind reddens the green maple leaves; cold frost descends through the autumn air.
The Heavenly Emperors of the Jade Capital gather in the palace of the Northern Dipper; some ride qilin, others mount phoenixes.
Banners adorned with lotus flutter like smoke across the sky; their shadows sway over the Xiao and Xiang, which mirror the splendid sun.
The Lords of the star palaces drink fine wine there; alas, the flying immortals are few, and dwell far away.
I hear that you have withdrawn from the world, following the immortal Chi Songzi, like Zhang Liang of the Han.
Once you brought order to the state and established merit; the cares of planning and deciding affairs of government have wearied you, and your look is stricken with grief.
You say you cannot sway the fate of the state
Background
Read the background
This poem was written in the autumn of 766 (the first year of the Dali era of Emperor Daizong of Tang), when Du Fu had left Shu and was staying at Kuizhou. Judging from the poem, Han Zhu seems to have been a good friend of Du Fu's: he had once served as a remonstrance official and rendered meritorious service to the state, being a man of considerable ability. Yet at court he was pushed aside by petty men, and so he resigned his office and retired to Yueyang to cultivate the Way of the immortals. Du Fu felt sorry for his friend and wrote this poem urging him to return and assist the ruler.