此诗写作者在乘船离开广陵(今江苏扬州)赴任洛阳(今属河南)的途中，对友人元大的离别之情。

首联写别离之“初发”；颔联写友人乘舟归去；颈联写期望重逢；尾联以舟行不定，喻世事之顺逆翻复，难以自主。

全诗借景抒情，寓情于景，诗人联想到世事的难测，写得很有情致，也吐露了自己被罢官以后的心情。

韦应物 初发扬子寄元大校书　凄凄去亲爱，泛泛入烟雾。

归棹洛阳人，残钟广陵树。

今朝此为别，何处还相遇。

世事波上舟，沿洄安得住。

On Setting Out on the Yangtze; For Secretary YuanWei YingwuSadly I left my dear, beloved friend;Slowly I drifted into mist and fog—no end—To Luoyang where my family is and dwells;While trees in Guangling echoed curfew bells.

Early this morning did we say goodbye,Where shall we meet again?

Where shall we lie?

Destiny is a boat tossing on waves,Who can stay it?

Not He, though He all saves!

【双语诗歌翻译|韦应物-初发扬子寄元大校书　查看网站：[db:时间]】