《西洲曲》是南朝乐府民歌名，最早著录于徐陵所编《玉台新咏》。是南朝乐府民歌中最长的抒情诗篇，历来被视为南朝乐府民歌的代表作。诗中描写了一位少女从初春到深秋，从现实到梦境，对钟爱之人的苦苦思念，洋溢着浓厚的生活气息和鲜明的感情色彩，表现出鲜明的江南水乡特色和纯熟的表现技巧。全诗三十二句，四句一解，用蝉联而下的接字法，顶真勾连。全诗技法之“巧”，令人拍案叫绝。
写作时间和背景没有定论，一说是产生于梁代的民歌，收入当时乐府诗集，另一说是江淹所作，为徐陵《玉台新咏》所记载。还有一说在明清人编写的古诗选本里，又或作“晋辞”，或以为是梁武帝萧衍所作。但此诗具体在何时产生，又出自何人之手，千百年来没有足够的证据来说明，扑朔迷离中一直难以形成定论。
无名氏·《西洲曲》
忆梅下西洲，折梅寄江北。
单衫杏子红，双髻鸦雏色。
西洲在何处，两桨桥头渡。
日暮伯劳飞，风吹乌臼树。
树下即门前，门中露翠钿。
开门郎不至，出门采红莲。
采莲南塘秋，莲花过人头。
低头弄莲子，莲子青如水。
置莲怀袖中，莲心彻底红。
忆郎郎不至，仰首望飞鸿。
鸿飞满西洲，望郎上青楼，
楼高望不见，尽日栏杆头。
栏杆十二曲，垂手明如玉。
卷帘天自高。海水遥空绿。
海水梦悠悠，君愁我亦愁。
南风知我意，吹梦到西洲。
West Island—Remember?
Anonymous
Plum blossoms snowing on West Island—remember?
Now the plum trees are in blossom again, but he's up north.
Why not send him a spray? Yes, send him a spray.
Remember the apricots ripening? Blushful beauty in summer dress, her hair the envy of raven fledglings.
Remember the place? West Island is not far off. But to row over there of an evening, only to find the shrikes wheeling low and the wind sighing in the trees—ah!
The trees—do they know? Those in front of her house might notice the door open quietly in the morning,
the would-be-happy maiden appear and, not finding the one awaited, make for the lake where lotus blooms glow softly red.
Lotus blooms are to be gathered in season.
As summer passes into autumn, they grow to a height quite above the maiden in the boat.
She bows before the lotus. Look at the fruits, fresh and green as the spring of their being.
These fruits let her cherish, for they are red at the core, full of quenchless fire.
The fire she will tend; but is it to be a memory, no more? She watches for the wild geese coming south.
Skein after skein arrives, settling on West Island, but none has a message for her.
She goes to the top of her bower. High as it is, it fails to bring him within sight.
All day long she stops at the balustrade, till the last glimmer of light dies out and the sky looks like a dark heaving sea.
“Draw up the blinds. Let me be face to face with the infinite.
“Unbounded as the blue expanse our freedom should be—at least in dream.
Yet we are not free from sorrow, neither of us.
“Would the south wind have compassion and carry us back to West Island—in dream at least?”
