“The peach blossom water is three thousand feet deep” refers to the Peach Blossom Pond in Jing County (today’s southern Anhui Province).
Original poem:
Li Bai was about to go on a boat when he suddenly heard singing on the shore.
The water in Peach Blossom Pond is a thousand feet deep, not as deep as Wang Lun’s gift to me.
Translation:
Li Bai was about to leave for a long journey in a boat, when he suddenly heard the sound of singing from the shore.
Even if the water of Peach Blossom Pond is a thousand feet deep, it can't compare with Wang Lun's feelings for me.
Source: "A Gift to Wang Lun" by Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty
Poem Appreciation
This is a unique farewell poem. During the days when the author was visiting Peach Blossom Pond, he received warm hospitality from his host. Before leaving, the host came to see him off. So the author wrote this poem to say goodbye.
The first two sentences of the poem are narrative, showing a picture of parting. Li Bai was about to set off in the boat when he suddenly heard the sound of farewell singing coming from the shore. Looking for fame, it turned out that Wang Lun had arrived. The poet was leaving without notifying Wang Lun. Wang Lun not only came by himself, but also brought a singing team. This scene is really touching.
The last two sentences of the poem are the natural outpouring of the emotional wave inspired by this situation and scene. The water in Peach Blossom Pond is very deep, but it is not as deep as Wang Lun's friendship for me. The poet compares his deepest feelings for his friends to the most common things in front of him, which seems to be picked casually but has endless charm.