Friendship Poem

[sparklemotion]

I am a best man in a wedding for my friend who is in th US AIR FORCE learning Mandarin Chinese. I was hoping to learn and recite a poem at his wedding reception, I was hoping for something on Marriage or Friendship. Any help would be great.

Thanks

[ggonline]

This poem is extremely famous in china, wrote by someone unknown 2500 years ago, especially being used to bless bride and bridegroom. The main character in this poem was a soldier who had to leave home to fight for his country

死生契阔，与子成说。执子之手，与子偕老。

一般来说，引用上面一句话就够了。

[原文]

击鼓其镗，踊跃用兵。土国城漕，我独南行。

从孙子仲，平陈与宋。不我以归，忧心有忡。

爰居爰处？爰丧其马？于以求之？于林之下。

死生契阔，与子成说。执子之手，与子偕老。

于嗟阔兮，不我活兮。于嗟洵兮，不我信兮。

[译文]

击鼓声镗镗（震于耳旁），

（将士们）奋勇演练着刀枪。

土墙和漕城修筑正忙，

惟有我随军远征到南方。

跟随孙子仲（行旅奔波），

平定（作乱的）陈、宋二国，

回家的心愿得不到允可，

心中郁郁忧愁不乐，

（我却）身在何方，身处何地？

我的马儿丢失在哪里？

到哪里（才能）将它寻觅？

到那（山间的）林泉之地。

生生死死离离合合，

（无论如何）我与你说过。

与你的双手交相执握，

伴着你一起垂垂老去。

可叹如今散落天涯，

怕有生之年难回家乡。

可叹如今天各一方，

令我的信约竟成了空话。

[Quest]

I would recommend picking a modern poem so your friend can understand it.

[skylee]

Here is an old thread on the same topic -> poems about love and marriage (I like the one in post #3 best)

[geraldc]

You could always go get a large 囍 character, and have it displayed at the wedding, and rather than recite a poem, just explain the significance of the character to weddings etc. I think trying to recite a poem in Chinese is going to be very tough, even your friend might not understand it.