此诗写作者在乘船离开广陵(今江苏扬州)赴任洛阳(今属河南)的途中，对友人元大的离别之情。首联写别离之“初发”；颔联写友人乘舟归去；颈联写期望重逢；尾联以舟行不定，喻世事之顺逆翻复，难以自主。全诗借景抒情，寓情于景，诗人联想到世事的难测，写得很有情致，也吐露了自己被罢官以后的心情。

韦应物·《初发扬子寄元大校书》

凄凄去亲爱，泛泛入烟雾。
归棹洛阳人，残钟广陵树。
今朝此为别，何处还相遇。
世事波上舟，沿洄安得住。

On Setting Out on the Yangtze; For Secretary Yuan
Wei Yingwu
Sadly I left my dear, beloved friend;
Slowly I drifted into mist and fog—no end—
To Luoyang where my family is and dwells;
While trees in Guangling echoed curfew bells.
Early this morning did we say goodbye,
Where shall we meet again? Where shall we lie?
Destiny is a boat tossing on waves,
Who can stay it? Not He, though He all saves!