 | The works of Li Po, the Chinese poet |  |
107
[OMITTED]
72. THE POET MOURNS HIS JAPANESE
FRIEND
Alas, Chao of Nippon—you who left the Imperial City
To sail the waters where the fabled islands are!
Alas, the bright moon has sunk into the blue sea nevermore to return,
And gray clouds of sorrow fill the far skies of the south.
To sail the waters where the fabled islands are!
Alas, the bright moon has sunk into the blue sea nevermore to return,
And gray clouds of sorrow fill the far skies of the south.
Chao is the Chinese name adopted by a Japanese, Abe Nakamaro, who, on arriving from Japan, was so fascinated with the brilliant court and city of Chang-an, that he chose to remain in China all his life. Once he sailed for home, but his ship encountered a storm and was blown to the south coast of China. At the first report of the mishap his friends at Chang-an believed that he was dead, and threnodies were composed, of which this poem by Li Po was one.
| The works of Li Po, the Chinese poet | |