Ma Zhiyuan (1250-1321) styled Dongli, was born in Dadu (today's Beijing). One of the Four Master Dramatists of the Yuan dynasty, Ma wrote altogether 15 plays, of which seven have survived. His Sanqu poems give expressions to his regrets of an unrecognized talent and the longings of an undetermined recluse. He was a success wherever he directed his efforts in terms of poetry writing whether in a sublime or beautiful style.
马致远（1250-1321）号东篱，大都（今北京）人。为“元曲四大家”之一，著杂剧十五种，今存七种。其散曲主要抒发文士怀才不遇的悲愤与消极遁世思想。艺术上纵横挥洒，无不如意，豪放清丽，兼而有之。
The Night Rain on the Xiaoxiang River to the tune of Life-giving Sun
寿阳曲·潇湘夜雨
The lamplight is dim;
鱼灯暗，
Broken is the stranger's dream.
客梦回，
By drops of heart-rending rain,
一声声滴人心碎。
Like a traveler's passion-ridden tear in vain,
孤舟五更家万里，
At dawn in the lonely fishing boat I roam,
是离人几行情泪。
Thousands o miles away from my home.