Saying Good-bye to Cambridge Again --- by Xu Zhimo
Very quietly I take my leave Very quietly I take my leave
As quietly as I came here;
Quietly I wave good-bye I wave gently,
To the rosy clouds in the western sky. Say goodbye to the clouds in the west.
The golden willows by the riverside,
Are young brides in the setting sun;
Their reflections on the shimmering waves The shadows in the waves,
Always linger in the depth of my heart.
The floating heart growing in the sludge
Sways leisurely under the water; swaying oilily under the water:
In the gentle waves of Cambridge In the gentle waves of the River Cam
I would be a water plant! I would be a water plant.
That pool under the shade of elm trees,
Holds not water but the rainbow from the sky; not a clear spring, but a rainbow from the sky
Shattered to pieces among the duckweeds Shattered among floating algae,
Is the sediment of a rainbow-like dream? Precipitating a rainbow-like dream.
To seek a dream? Just to pole a boat upstream To seek a dream? Take a long punt,
To where the green grass is more verdant; Or to have the boat fully loaded with starlight
And sing aloud in the splendor of starlight.
But I cannot sing aloud
Quietness is my farewell music; Quietness is the shengxiao of parting;
Even summer insects keep silence for me The summer insects are also silent for me,
Silent is Cambridge tonight! Silent is Cambridge tonight!
Very quietly I take my leave As quietly as I came here;
Gently I flick my sleeves I wave my sleeves
Not even a wisp of cloud will I bring away Not even a wisp of cloud will I bring away.