How Can a Man Escape Life's Sorrow and Regret? (Midnight Song)
Li Yu



Life sorrow regret how can avoid
Overwhelm sorrow alone my feeling what limit
Old country dream again return
Wake come two tears fall
High tower who do climb
Long remember autumn clear scene
Past events already become empty
Go like a dream in
How can a man escape life's sorrow and regret?
What limit is there to my solitary grief?
I returned to my homeland in a dream,
As I awakened, I shed two tears.
Who now will climb up those high towers,
I remember those clear autumn scenes.
Those past events have lost their meaning,
They disappear as in a dream.


View Chinese text in traditional characters.

Other Chinese poems about Separation and Autumn.