<Header>
<Author: 白居易>
<Title: 別州民>
<Format: 五言律詩>
<Year: 1919>
<BookName: MORE TRANSLATIONS FROM THE CHINESE>
<Translator: Waley, Arthur>
<TranslatedTitle: GOOD-BYE TO THE PEOPLE OF HANGCHOW>
<BookPage: 55>
<UsedPage: 1>
<Feature: 4>
<End Header>
<Poem>
耆老遮歸路，
壺漿滿別筵。
甘棠無一樹，
那得淚潸然。
稅重多貧戶，
農饑足旱田。
唯留一湖水，
與汝救凶年。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
ELDERS and officers line the returning road;
Wine and soup load the parting table.
I have not ruled you with the wisdom of Shao Kung;
What is the reason your tears should fall so fast?
My taxes were heavy, though many of the people were poor;
The farmers were hungry, for often their fields were dry.
All I did was to dam the water of the Lake
And help a little in a year when things were bad.
<End Translation>