Farewell, Cambridge Again
Very quietly I take my leave
As quietly as I came here;
I wave my hands and bid farewell
To the clouds in the western sky.
The golden willows by the riverside
Are brides in the setting sun;
Their reflections in the shimmering waves
Dance on the ripples of memory.
In the gentle waves of the Cam
I am but a water plant;
Floating freely with the current
I drift into deeper dreams.
The green duckweed spreads its luxuriance
Under the soft glow of starlight;
In the gentle rhythm of the night
I dream of a celestial paradise.
Piling up the dream-like lily pads
I lie on the bosom of the river;
Let me sing softly in the breeze
Of the eternal melody of youth.
Don't disturb the tranquility of the night;
Let the moonlight linger silently;
When I depart, let it be without sound;
Even the swaying reeds shall not mourn.
I quietly take my leave
As quietly as I came here;
Waving my hands, I bid farewell
To the clouds in the western sky.
This poem is an English translation of Xu Zhimo's famous Chinese poem "再别康桥". The original Chinese text has a beautiful rhythm and imagery that is difficult to fully capture in translation. However, this version attempts to convey the essence of the original work while expressing the poet's feelings of nostalgia and longing for Cambridge University. The imagery of the golden willows, the gentle river, and the quiet departure all reflect the bittersweet emotions of saying goodbye to a beloved place.
