王维《相思》翻译

王维《相思》是中国古典名诗之一,它抒发了作者对远方亲朋的深深思念之情。以下是对这首诗的英译:

The flowing waters of the north stream

Are ceaseless night and day.

My heart turns to the one I love,

But she is far away.

The flowers in the eastern garden

Quietly bloom and fade.

I think of my dear companion,

Yet she remains unmoved.

The birds have left the empty boughs,

And gone to their distant nests.

I lie awake at night alone,

My heart with sorrow pressed.

This poem captures the melancholy and longing felt by the poet, who is separated from his beloved. The imagery of the flowing stream, the blooming and fading flowers, and the birds returning to their nests all serve to heighten the sense of isolation and yearning experienced by the speaker.

The first stanza establishes the geographical distance between the poet and his love, as the northern stream flows endlessly without pause. The second stanza further emphasizes this distance, as the flowers in the eastern garden bloom and fade without the poet's companion to witness them.

The final stanza is especially poignant, as the poet lies awake at night, his heart "with sorrow pressed" – a vivid and emotive portrayal of the anguish of separation and longing. The use of simple yet evocative language, coupled with the universal themes of love and loss, have made this poem a timeless classic of Chinese literature.