<Header>
<Author: 王維>
<Title: 送祕書晁監還日本國>
<Format: 五言排律>
<Year: 1919>
<BookName: Gems of Chinese Verse>
<Translator: W. J. B. Fletcher>
<TranslatedTitle: FAREWELL ODE TO CHAO KIEN on his returning to Japan. (8th century)>
<BookPage: 103-104>
<UsedPage: 2>
<Feature: 1, 4>
<End Header>
<Poem>
積水不可極，
安知滄海東。
九州何處遠，
萬里若乘空。
向國唯看日，
歸帆但信風。
鰲身映天黑，
魚眼射波紅。
鄉樹扶桑外，
主人孤島中。
別離方異域，
音信若為通。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
When the deep sea we know we cannot sound,
   How guess what eastward of the Ocean be?
Or which ninth nation farthest off be found,
   Hung as in Space across a myriad lee.
Your only homeward guide must be the sun.
   Your chart, the caprice of the fitful breeze.
Huge monsters' shadows o'er the skyline run;
   And fishes flash red eye-beams through the seas.
Beyond the Banyan-land in wooded home
   Of some lone isle will you the master be.
When into such strange places hence you roam,
   How shall we ever hear a word from thee?
<End Translation>
<Formatted Translation>
When the deep sea we know we cannot sound,
How guess what eastward of the Ocean be?
Or which ninth nation farthest off be found,
Hung as in Space across a myriad lee.
Your only homeward guide must be the sun.
Your chart, the caprice of the fitful breeze.
Huge monsters' shadows o'er the skyline run;
And fishes flash red eye-beams through the seas.
Beyond the Banyan-land in wooded home
Of some lone isle will you the master be.
When into such strange places hence you roam,
How shall we ever hear a word from thee?
<End Formatted Translation>