《湘夫人》是屈原的代表作之一，这首诗的主题主要是描写相恋者生死契阔、会合无缘。作品始终以候人不来为线索，在怅惘中向对方表示深长的怨望，但彼此之间的爱情始终不渝则是一致的。

屈原 《楚辞·湘夫人》

帝子降兮北渚，目眇眇兮愁予。
溺溺兮秋风，洞庭波兮木叶下。

登白薠兮骋望，与佳期兮夕张。
鸟何萃兮蘋中，罾何为兮木上？

沅有茝兮澧有兰，思公子兮未敢言。
荒忽兮远望，观流水兮潺湲。

麋何食兮庭中，蛟何为兮水裔？
朝驰余马兮江皋，夕济兮西澨。
闻佳人兮召予，将腾驾兮偕逝。

筑室兮水中，葺之兮荷盖。
荪壁兮紫坛，播芳椒兮成堂。

桂栋兮兰橑，辛夷楣兮药房。
罔薜荔兮为帷，擗蕙櫋兮既张。

白玉兮为镇，疏石兰兮为芳。
芷葺兮荷屋，缭之兮杜衡。

合百草兮实庭，建芳馨兮庑门。
九嶷缤兮并迎，灵之来兮如云。

捐余袂兮江中，遗余褋兮澧浦。
搴汀洲兮杜若，将以遗兮远者；

时不可兮骤得，聊逍遥兮容与！

The Lady of the Xiang
Qu Yuan

To the northern bank descends the lady Goddess;
Somber and wistful the expression in her eyes.
Sighing softly the autumn breeze;
Leaves fall on the ripples of Dongting Lake.

Amidst the white sedge, I anxiously keep watch
For my love who will come when the sun sets.
Why are the birds flocking in the reeds?
Why the nets hanging in the trees?

Angelicas by the Yuan and orchids by the Li.
I long for my love but dare not speak my thoughts.
My heart is trembling as I gaze afar
Over the waters which are flowing fast.

Why are the deer browning in the courtyard?
Why are the dragons cleaving to the band?
At dawn I ride my horses by the river;
At dusk I cross the current to the western bank.
I shall hear my loved one when he summons me;
Urging my horses I shall speed to his side.

In the river I shall build him a home;
It will have a roof made of lotus leaves,
Iris walls and purple shells for a room.
A hall of fragrant peppers,

Cassia beams and rafters of magnolia,
Jasmine lintels, an arbor of peonies,
And fig-leaves woven into curtains,
Melilotus overhead for a shelter.

White jade stones securing mats,
A screen scented with rock-orchid,
A room of lotus decked with vetch,
And fresh azalea sprigs entwined.

A courtyard filled with wondrous flowers,
Whose fragrance rare assails the gates.
The mountain spirits will greet my love.