The Lord of the Xiang
Qu Yuan
The cinnamon boat and the distant gaze
Make the boat fragrant and seek the one who does not come.
The hesitant opening turns into a hopeful water journey through the Yuan, Xiang, Dongting and distant shores.
君不行兮夷犹，蹇谁留兮中洲。
You hesitate and do not come; who is keeping you on that island?
美要眇兮宜修，沛吾乘兮桂舟。
You are beautiful and finely adorned; I hurry aboard my cinnamon-wood boat.
令沅湘兮无波，使江水兮安流。
Let the Yuan and Xiang be free of waves; let the great river flow in peace.
望夫君兮未来，吹参差兮谁思。
The one I watch for has not arrived; for whom do these uneven panpipes sound?
驾飞龙兮北征，邅吾道兮洞庭。
I drive flying dragons northward and turn my course through Dongting.
薜荔柏兮蕙绸，荪桡兮兰旌。
Creeping fig dresses the curtains, hui binds them; fragrant herbs adorn the oars and lan the banners.
望涔阳兮极浦，横大江兮扬灵。
I gaze toward Cenyang and the distant shore, crossing the great river with a soaring spirit.
扬灵兮未极，女婵媛兮为余太息。
The journey has not reached its end; you yearn for me and sigh deeply.
The voyage advances, but the gaze toward the absent companion still has no response.