Chu’s people sing songs using bamboo reeds
The itinerants’ tears stain their clothing
A long-time guest inside a foreign land
Oft dreams of returning home on cold nights
One sealed-up letter has yet to come back
A thousand trees’ leaves all fly in the air
Southwards across the waters of Dongting
Further should the news be in scarce supply

Original text
楚人歌竹枝，游子泪沾衣。
异国久为客，寒宵频梦归。
一封书未返，千树叶皆飞。
南过洞庭水，更应消息稀。