Listen to this article
长干行[1]
（二首其一）
妾发初覆额，
折花门前剧。
郎骑竹马来，
绕床[2]弄青梅。
同居长干里[3]，
两小无嫌猜。
十四为君妇，
羞颜未尝开。
低头向暗壁，
千唤不一回。
十五始展眉，
愿同尘与灰。
常存抱柱信[4]，
岂上望夫台！
十六君远行，
瞿塘滟滪堆[5]。
五月不可触，
猿声天上哀。
门前迟行迹，
一一生绿苔。
苔深不能扫，
落叶秋风早。
八月蝴蝶黄，
双飞西园草。
感此伤妾心，
坐愁红颜老。
早晚[6]下三巴[7]，
预将书报家。
相迎不道远，
直至长风沙[8]。
《长干行》是李白爱情诗的代表作，写长干里的少年儿女青梅竹马，后来结为夫妇，但愿共甘苦同生死。丈夫愿学在桥下约会的情人，等到水涨女方还没来时，宁愿抱着桥柱淹死也不离开。现在丈夫出外经商，三峡水急滩险，经常船沉人亡，连猿猴都悲啼哀鸣了。妻子在门前等候，像在望夫台上，一直等到台阶上长满了绿苔，蝴蝶也变老了，丈夫还没回家。她不免感到悲哀，希望他能早从三峡归来，先寄一封家信，她会不怕路远，到几百里外的长风沙去接他。这是古代借相思写爱情的代表作。
注释：
[1]长干行：属乐府《杂曲歌辞》调名。
[2]床：井栏，即后院围住水井的栅栏。
[3]长干里：位于今南京市，旧时船民多聚居于此，因而《长干曲》多抒发船家女子的感情。
[4]抱柱信：典出《庄子·盗跖篇》，写尾生与一女子相约于桥下见面，女子未到却突然涨水，尾生因守信不愿离去，抱着柱子被水淹死。
[5]滟（yàn）滪（yù）堆：三峡之一瞿塘峡峡口的一块大礁石，农历五月涨水没礁，过往船只极易触礁沉没。
[6]早晚：什么时候。
[7]三巴：地名。即巴郡、巴东、巴西。在今四川东部地区。
[8]长风沙：地名，在今安徽省安庆市的长江沿岸，距南京约700里。
Ballads of a Merchant’s Wife
(I)
My forehead covered by my hair cut straight,
I played with flowers plucked before the gate.
On a hobbyhorse you came upon the scene,
Around the well we played with mumes still green.
We lived close neighbors on riverside lane.
Carefree and innocent,we children twain.
I was fourteen when I became your bride;
I’d often turn my bashful face aside.
Hanging my head,I’d look towards the wall;
A thousand times I’d not answer your call.
I was fifteen when I composed my brows;
To mix my dust with yours were my dear vows.
Rather than break faith,you declared you’d die.
Who knew I’d live alone in a tower high?
I was sixteen when you went far away,
Passing Three Canyons studded with rocks grey,
Where ships were wrecked when spring flood ran high,
Where gibbons’wails seemed coming from the sky.
Green moss now overgrows before our door;
Your footprints,hidden,can be seen no more.
Moss can’t be swept away:so thick it grows,
And leaves fall early when the west wind blows.
The yellow butterflies in autumn pass
Two by two o’er our western garden grass.
This sight would break my heart,and I’m afraid,
Sitting alone,my rosy cheeks would fade.
Sooner or later,you’ll leave the western land.
Do not forget to let me know beforehand.
I’ll walk to meet you and not call it far
To go to Long Wind Sands or where you are.
