表兄話舊 竇叔向

表兄話舊    竇叔向 (唐)

夜合花開香滿庭，夜深微雨醉初醒。  

遠書珍重何由答，舊事淒涼不可聽。
去日兒童皆長大，昔年親友半凋零。  
明朝又是孤舟別，愁見河橋酒幔青。  

Reminiscence with My Cousin        Dou Shuxiang (Tang poet)

The scent of vetch-tree blossoms in the courtyard abounds,

Deep in the night amidst mizzles from my wine I’ve just come round,
I just don’t know how to reply the letter coming afar from you with your affections profound,
Things past are so dolorous that I could hardly expound,
 Children when I left home are now all adults around,
Half of the relations and friends of old are now in the burial ground,
Tomorrow leaving in your boat alone you’ll be far bound,
The blue inn-signs of the wine house by the river bridge stir my glum deep down.