登岳阳楼
杜甫
昔闻洞庭水， 今上岳阳楼。
吴楚东南坼， 乾坤日夜浮。
亲朋无一字， 老病有孤舟。
戎马关山北， 凭轩涕泗流。
on the gate-tower at youzhou
du fu
i had always heard of lake dongting --
and now at last i have climbed to this tower.
with wu country to the east of me and chu to the south,
i can see heaven and earth endlessly floating.
...but no word has reached me from kin or friends.
i am old and sick and alone with my boat.
north of this wall there are wars and mountains --
and here by the rail how can i help crying?