哭刘蕡
上帝深宫闭九阍[1],
巫咸[2]不下问衔冤。
黄陵[3]别后春涛隔,
湓浦[4]书来秋雨翻。
只有安仁[5]能作诔[6],
何曾宋玉解招魂。
平生风义兼师友,
不敢同君哭寝门。
诗人敬慕刘蕡才华,与刘蕡亦师亦友,虽然不是旧交故友,但是肝胆相照,想不到黄陵一别,竟成永诀。自己对友人的逝世无能为力,不能复其魂魄,让刘蕡死而复生,只能作悼词哀悼亡友。
注释:
[1]九阍:九天之门,比喻帝王的宫门。
[2]巫咸:传说中的古代神巫。
[3]黄陵:在今湖南省岳阳市湘阴县北。《哭刘司户蕡》也有:“去年相送地,春雪满黄陵。”
[4]湓浦:指江州,今江西省九江市。从江州传来刘蕡的死讯,正是秋雨降落之时。
[5]安仁:西晋潘岳的字,擅长写作哀诔文。
[6]诔:古代叙述死者生前事迹,表示哀悼的文体。
Elegy on Liu Fen
Closed are the palace gates of the celestial spheres;
No witch is sent to inquire if you’re right or wrong.
Spring tides have severed us since we parted in tears,
Your death turns autumn rain weeping all day long.
I would turn raindrops into words to mourn for you.
Could the poet call back the soul of my compeer?
I admire you as an old friend and teacher new.
How could I weep for you in and out,far and near?
Note:It was believed that a witch would be sent from the celestial spheres to right the wrong in the human world.The poet in line 6 refers to Song Yu(宋玉)who would call back the soul ofQ u Yuan(屈原)of the 3rd Century B.C.