青海之巅兮，皑皑兮层峦；
何日消释兮，濯足兮长川；
故道溶溶兮，曲折兮浩汗；
自天之府兮，天门至上海。
吾乃长江兮，滔滔万里；
吾乃长江兮，奔流不息。
亘古及今兮，逝者如斯夫；
不辞苦辛兮，甘泽被黎庶；
惟今疾呼兮，无壅我源渚；
尔所不欲兮，无污我绣襦。
吾乃长江兮，滔滔万里；
吾乃长江兮，奔流不息。
昔同入海兮，黄河吾手足；
育汝若长兄，哺汝若慈母；
其情一何长，其哀一何苦；
垂垂病榻前，奄奄命将卒。
吾乃长江兮，滔滔万里；
吾乃长江兮，奔流不息。
躬耕黄土兮，翘首望丰年；
吾沃尔种兮，沧海变良田；
吾载尔谷兮，千里一日还；
吾食尔民兮，奈何莫我怜！
吾乃长江兮，滔滔万里；
吾乃长江兮，奔流不息。
骚人墨客兮，太息在我肩；
泣涕沾襟兮，崔颢与李白；
其恸兮不绝，其殇兮摧肝；
我魂将佚兮，九州齐泫然。
吾乃长江兮，滔滔万里；
吾乃长江兮，奔流不息。
不舍夙夜兮，一去不复返；
日出而作兮，日落仍辗转；
辗转反侧兮，耿耿不能安；
若素汝心兮，休戚哪相关。
吾乃长江兮，滔滔万里；
吾乃长江兮，奔流不息。
甘霖久违兮，断流杳无期；
填海当住兮，且留青山屹；
山是吾脊兮，森林兮吾臂；
鸟鸣咻咻兮，无枝兮可栖。
吾乃长江兮，滔滔万里；
吾乃长江兮，奔流不息。
吾本为水兮，古今殊无异；
众志成城兮，共谢长江堤；
湛湛清泉兮，涓涓兮迤逦；
载欣载奔兮，生生永不息。
吾乃长江兮，滔滔兮万里；
吾乃长江兮，奔流永不息。
吾乃长江兮，滔滔兮万里；
吾乃长江兮，奔流永不息。
原作：路乞 戊子年三月，祖宁译
I AM THE RIVER LONG
(A lamentation on China’s Long River)
The Beggar By The Road
On Qinghai’s plains where snow so deep the Mountains hide in shame,
I wait for heat to wet my feet that I might run again.
Along that track I’ve run before and run from town to town,
From Heavens-Seat through Heavens-Gate to City-on-the-Sea.
I am the River Long, I am the River Long,
Long, long, long, long, I am the River Long.
For eons now I’ve made this trek because you need me so;
Your myriad mouths now open wide to drink my waters pure.
So why I cry，in pressing need，you rudely break my head,
And all the things that you don’t want you throw upon my bed.
I am the River Long, I am the River Long,
Long, long, long, long, I am the River Long.
My Yellow sister, twins we were, once flowing to the sea,
Has just like me, served you so well，her cradle once was free;
Though pleading loud and long for years, she now cries on her bed,
I am your brother she your mother though she’s almost dead.
I am the River Long, I am the River Long,
Long, long, long, long, I am the River Long.
You plant your hopes in Yellow Earth with faith I’ll ever flow,
And water all your fruit and things to make them fully grow,
And on your ships your harvest take, to City-On-The-Sea,
To feed your young, your old and strong, while you are killing me.
I am the River Long, I am the River Long,
Long, long, long, long, I am the River Long.
So many poets past and gone have on my shoulders cried;
And cried as only poets cry, Old Cui Hao and Li Bai,
And all the tears they cried for me, straight from their hearts were torn,
The passing of my soul they wailed, all china for me mourn.
I am the River Long, I am the River Long,
Long, long, long, long, I am the River Long.
The day and night to me is one, I’ve always run and run,
Though on my bed I ever toil, From setting sun to sun;
And though I toil upon my bed, I never stop to sleep,
While heaven stills your troubled soul, and through the night does keep.
I am the River Long, I am the River Long,
Long, long, long, long, I am the River Long.
Where ere the crystal drops do fall, I wait there patiently,
While you and your machines do push your mountains to the sea,
The mountains are my bones you see, the trees they are my arms,
The birds they have no place to rest, they cry in great alarm.
I am the River Long, I am the River Long,
Long, long, long, long, I am the River Long.
I’m water now, I water was from ancient times till now,
It’s what I dream, It’s what I hope, if you with me bow.
And join with me to keep my springs, like crystals pure and clear,
Then I with joy will ever flow, all through millennial year.
I am the River Long, I am the River Long,
Long, long, long, long, How long the River Long.
I am the River Long, I am the River Long,
Long, long, long, long, How long the River Long.
