昔聞洞庭水，Id heard of Lake Dongting,

今上岳陽樓。Now Im on Tower Yueyang.

吳楚東南坼，Dongting separates Wu and Chu,

乾坤日夜浮。witnessing changes of the world.

親朋無一字， No words from my folks,

老病有孤舟。 In decrepitude, a lomesome me.

戎馬關山北， The war resumed in North,

憑軒涕泗流。  By baluster, Im in tears.