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.