Farewell to Kangqiao by Xu Zhimo
As quietly as I came, I left; gently I waved my hand, becoming the clouds in the western sky.
The golden willows by the river are the bride in the sunset; the beautiful shadows in the ripples of light are rippling in my heart.
The green banana-plants on the soft mud sway gracefully under the water; in the soft waves of the Cam River, I would willingly be a waterweed.
The pool under the elm shade is not a clear spring, but a rainbow in the sky; crushed among the floating algae, a rainbow-like dream is deposited.
Looking for a dream? Take a long punt pole and row slowly toward where the grass is greener; load a boat full of stars and sing in the colorful starlight.
But I can’t sing, silence is the sound of farewell; the summer insects are also silent for me, silence is tonight’s Cambridge!
Quietly I left, just as quietly as I came; I waved my sleeves, not taking away a single cloud.