Liu Yuxi Poem: Bamboo Branch Song – 刘禹锡《竹枝词九首（其七）》

竹枝词九首（其七）

刘禹锡

瞿塘^[1]嘈嘈^[2]十二滩，

此中道路古来难。

长恨人心不如水，

等闲平地起波澜。

注释：

[1] 瞿塘：瞿塘峡，又名夔峡，西起奉节白帝城，东至巫山县大溪镇，全长八公里。瞿塘峡是三峡中最短、最窄、最险的峡谷。

[2] 嘈嘈：流水发出的嘈杂声。

Bamboo Branch Song （Ⅶ）

Liu Yuxi

From beach to beach the torrent splashes down its way;

It’s hard to sail in the Three Gorges since olden day.

But human heart is more dangerous than a whirlpool;

You may be drowned in it though it seems calm and cool.

The poet compares human heart to a dangerous whirlpool.