Seeking a Passage

天门兮墬户，孰由兮贤者？

The gate of heaven and the door of earth: which of them lets a worthy man pass through?

无正兮溷厕，怀德兮何睹？

With none upright, the crooked and sly crowd in together; where can a man who bears virtue ever be seen and used?

假寐兮愍斯，谁可与兮寤语？

I lie down in my clothes, grieving over this; who is there to stay awake and talk things over with me?

痛凤兮远逝，畜鴳兮近处。

I grieve that the phoenix has flown far away, while they keep the little yan quail close at hand.

鲸鱏兮幽潜，从虾兮游陼。

The whale and the sturgeon sink into hiding, while men follow the shrimp drifting about the islets.

乘虬兮登阳，载象兮上行。

I mount a qiu dragon and rise towards the bright sky, riding a winged sacred elephant upwards.

朝发兮葱岭，夕至兮明光。

At dawn I set out from Mount Congling in the far west; by dusk I reach Mingguang, the red peak of the far east.

北饮兮飞泉，南采兮芝英。

In the north I drink from the Flying Spring of Kunlun; in the south I gather blossoms of the numinous zhi fungus that prolong life.

宣游兮列宿，顺极兮彷徉。

I roam far and wide among the ranked constellations and wander round the pole star.

红采兮骍衣，翠缥兮为裳。

Red hues make my scarlet upper robe; kingfisher-blue and pale blue silk make my lower skirt.

舒佩兮綝纚，竦余剑兮干将。

My loosened pendants hang and sway, and I raise aloft my sword Ganjiang.

腾蛇兮后从，飞駏兮步旁。

The flying teng serpent follows behind, and the swift ju beast runs alongside my carriage.

微观兮玄圃，览察兮瑶光。

I look up at the Dark Garden of the Lord of Heaven on Kunlun and observe Yaoguang, the star at the tip of the Dipper's handle.

启匮兮探筴，悲命兮相当。

I open the casket and draw out the counting rods to divine, and grieve that my fate falls exactly on banishment.

纫蕙兮永辞，将离兮所思。

I bind hui herb as a pledge and bid farewell for ever, about to leave the lord my thoughts cling to.

浮云兮容与，道余兮何之？

Drifting clouds float at ease, now east, now west; they come to guide me, but where will they lead?

远望兮仟眠，闻雷兮阗阗。

Far off I see the land of Chu in dimness, and hear the thunder rolling and booming.

阴忧兮感余，惆怅兮自怜。

Hidden sorrow stirs within me; disheartened and lost, I can only pity myself.