《哀郢》是屈原的代表作之一，为“九章”之一。诗篇真实地记叙了诗人离别郢都当时和流亡途中的沉痛心情，生动地抒发了诗人热爱祖国、思念故乡和同情人民的深厚感情，深刻地描写了不得不出走逃亡而又满怀依恋，不忍离开祖国的复杂矛盾的心理活动。在诗中，叙事、抒情、写景融为一体，脉络分明，情感激越，堪称绝唱。

屈原 《楚辞·哀郢》

皇天之不纯命兮，何百姓之震愆！民离散而相失兮，方仲春而东迁。

去故乡而就远兮，遵江夏以流亡。出国门而轸怀兮，甲之鼌吾以行。

发郢都而去闾兮，怊荒忽其焉极？楫齐扬以容与兮，哀见君而不再得。

望长楸而太息兮，涕淫淫其若霰。过夏首而西浮兮，顾龙门而不见。

心婵媛而伤怀兮，眇不知其所蹠。顺风波以从流兮，焉洋洋而为客。

凌阳侯之氾滥，忽翱翔之焉薄。心絓结而不解兮，思蹇产而不释。

将运舟而下浮兮，上洞庭而下江。去终古之所居兮，今逍遥而东来。

羌灵魂之欲归兮，何须臾而忘反？背夏浦而西思兮，哀故都之日远。

登大坟以远望兮，聊以舒吾忧心。哀州土之平乐兮，悲江介之遗风。

当陵阳之焉至兮，淼南渡之焉如？曾不知夏之为丘兮，孰两东门之可芜！

心不怡之长久兮，忧与愁其相接。惟郢路之辽远兮，江与夏之不可涉。

忽若去不信兮，至今九年而不复。惨郁郁而不通兮，蹇侘傺而含慼。

外承欢之汋约兮，谌荏弱而难持。忠湛湛而愿进兮，妒被离而鄣之。

尧舜之抗行兮，瞭杳杳而薄天。众谗人之嫉妒兮，被以不慈之伪名。

憎愠惀之修美兮，好夫人之忼慨。众踥蹀而日进兮，美超远而逾迈。

乱曰： 曼余自以流观兮，冀壹反之何时！鸟飞反故乡兮，狐死必首丘。信非吾罪而弃逐兮，何日夜而忘之！

Mourning the Lost Capital
Qu Yuan

High heaven has proved fickle in its bounties;
Why should it frighten our people thus?
Men are scattered and friends separated.
Early in the spring, eastwards we started.

Setting out from my home for places far away;
The Yangtze and Xia were my paths into exile.
With sorrow in my heart, I went through the city gate;
Early on the first day, I commenced my travels.

As I left the city and then my village gate,
An endless despairing seized hold of my mind.
While the boat's oars swished in time,
I mourned for the prince I'd never see again.

A deep sigh escaped me gazing at the forests;
My tears in profusion coursed down like sleet.
Passing the Xia's head, we then drifted westwards,
I searched for the Dragon Gate but all in vain.

Yearning racked my heart and grief my mind;
Going so far away, the path uncertain.
Tossed by wind and waves, aimlessly drifting;
Embarked on an endless journey without hope of return.

Riding the rough waves, these thoughts filled my mind;
When, oh when, will this drifting ever cease?
My heart enmeshed could not be disentangled;
My thoughts trapped in a maze with no escape.

By the current, my boat was borne downstream;
South to the Dongting Lake, north to the river.
My old home abandoned , where in I had lived,
As I traveled eastwards randomly adrift.

Yet within my soul I burned to return;
Not a moment passed, but I longed to go back.
On leaving Xiapu, my thoughts raced westwards,
Mourning that my city daily grew more distant.

From a hilly island I searched the horizon,
Hoping to relieve the ache within my heart.
But the island's soil so fertile saddened me,
A reminder of the lands beside the Great River.

Where is my destination , as I traverse the water?
How proceed south across this vast waste?
Unaware in my exile the palace had been razed;
Unthinkable the East Gate had crumbled into ruins.

How many are the days since my heart felt joy;
As grief followed sorrow and sorrow followed grief;
Long and hard is the way to the city;
The Yangtze and Xia are difficult to cross.

To have left it seems at times inconceivable;
Yet for nine years I have not been there.
The sadness that blights me is too deep for words;
Chained to that place, life has a bitter taste.

Your favor was won by outward flattery;
Too weak to resist, without independent will.
When I, most loyal, tried to approach you,
Envy triumphed and obstructed me.

Yao and Shun so renowned for noble deeds,
That their glory was even reflected in the skies;
Yet many vicious tongues, jealous of their fame,
Spread ugly slanders and said they were not good.

Now you abhor the patient quest for beauty,
Preferring instead a scoundrel's trumpeting.
The mobs swarm round, each day closer in your favor;
While beauty spurned withdraws far away.

Envoi
So long have my eyes started into the distance;
Yearning once to return, but never knowing when.
The birds can fly home to their old nests;
The dying fox can turn to face his earth.
That I was blameless, yet cast aside and exiled;
Each day and night this still sears my soul.