In ages past, I'd heard of a wondrous lake,

And today, from atop Yueyang Tower, I did partake

A view of Wu and Chu, once united, now severed by divides.

In the lake's embrace, the sky, earth, and stars seem to float,

A magical scene that leaves me with a lump in my throat.

No word from kin or friends reach me,

And I find myself alone, with just my boat, aged and sick.

To the north, the fires of war still rage and burn,

As I lean against the door of my boat, my heart does yearn

To return to the comfort of my hearth and home.

With tears streaming down my face and a running nose,

I find myself overcome by an unrelenting dose

Of homesickness and longing, too much to bear,

As I float upon the lake, with only my despair.

Du Fu, “Climbing Yueyang Tower"