1. "Returning to Gaoguan Tankou to Farewell My Brother"
Tang Dynasty: Cen Shen
Yesterday there was faith in the mountains, but today it is during farming. Rumor has it that Du Lingsou blamed me for returning to the mountain late.
Drinking alone on the pond, no one is in the woods. I remember your place in the east stream, lying idle in front of the cormorants.
Translation: Yesterday, the mountain sent me a message that it is now the farming season. The letter blamed me for returning to the mountain too late, but the friendship in the mountain was profound. Now I drink alone on the pond, and there are no brothers to meet in the forest. When I miss you on the Dongxi River, I can only lie down facing the pigeons and cranes.
2. "Reminiscences of Shandong Brothers on September 9th"
Tang Dynasty: Wang Wei
A stranger in a foreign land, he misses his family even more during festive seasons .
I know from afar that my brothers have climbed to a high place, and there is one less person planting dogwood trees everywhere.
Translation: I am away from home alone as a guest in a foreign land. I miss my relatives especially when the festive season comes. When I think of my brothers wearing dogwoods and climbing to high places, I feel regretful because I am missing.
3. "Manjianghong: Written by Huaizi"
Song Dynasty: Su Shi
The Qing Dynasty flows eastward, the eyes are broken with sorrow, and the solitary sail is bright and extinguished. Where officials travel, there are thousands of green mountains and white waves. Living up to Lin Xiayi's wishes, the night rain on the bed was desolate. Hating this life, growing up in separation, giving birth to flowers.
A wine, on the side of the Yellow River. Infinite things, let’s start from the beginning. Seeing each other seems like yesterday, many years ago. Bitter tears remain on the old marks on the clothes, and the joy between the eyebrows is yellow. Then I went with you to look for the remaining spring on the pond, with flowers like snow.
Translation: The clear Yingshui flows eastward. Looking at the boat sailing away on the river, the sails of the boat are looming, and I feel sad in my heart. He traveled around as an official, traveled through thousands of mountains and rivers, and experienced many dangers. I failed to live up to the promise I made to you by talking to you every night and leaving early to live in seclusion.
In this life, there will be less gathering and more separation, and gray hair will be born. Drinking by the Yellow River, thinking of the past, I was filled with emotion. Although they have been separated for many years, the past is as clear as yesterday. After years of suffering and heartache, I finally have the good news that I am about to return. Until then, I'll be with you on the swimming pool in the late spring, watching the falling flowers like snow.
4. "Farewell to Brother"
Tang Dynasty: Anonymous
The clouds are rising on the way to farewell, and the leaves are thinning at the pavilion.
The people who complained were like wild geese, and they did not return together.
Translation: Brother! This is the road we have to break up. The clouds are flying, and there is a pavilion on the roadside for people to rest and say goodbye. Outside the pavilion, autumn leaves are falling. And what I sigh most sadly is, why can’t people be like the geese in the sky? Brother Dayan and his sister always line up neatly and fly home together.
5. "Brother Zhan Huai Mianchi"
Song Dynasty: Su Che
We said goodbye to Zheng Yuan, we were afraid of snow and mud on the long journey .
Returning to riding and looking for Daliang Mo, the traveler has already passed through ancient Guoxi.
Do you know that you were once a county official? Inscription on the wall of the old monk’s room.
When you think about traveling alone, there are few good things to eat, and there is no way for the horse to neigh.
Translation: The brothers who were traveling together said goodbye on Zheng Yuanye, and we were all worried about the difficult road ahead. I turned back on horseback and was still patrolling the fields of Daliang. I thought that my brother who was traveling far away had already crossed the ancient Koxi road. Do people know that I have been the chief bookkeeper of Mianchi? He also stayed in the monk's room with his father and brother and wrote poems on the wall. I remember that the journey must be lonely for my brother, and the road ahead is confusing and I can only hear the neighing of horses.