Li Qingzhao: "A Cut of Plum" (From Classical Chinese)

To the tune "A Cut of Plum"
By Li Qingzhao
Translated by A.Z. Foreman

Now fragrance of red lotus fades,    my mat feels autumn-blown.
    I loosen my gauze robe for bed,
    the boat I float in on my own.
Who's sent a lover's brocade letter    this way across the clouds?
    Skywriting geese return as moonlight
    fills the chill tower of one alone.

Flowers fall and scatter on their own    as waters run and drain.
    A singular longing links us in
    two places with one pointless pain.
This feeling clings and I can't find it    in me to put it out.
    It only falls out of my face
    to surface in the heart again.

The Original:

一剪梅
李清照

紅藕香殘玉簟秋。
輕解羅裳,
獨上蘭舟。
雲中誰寄錦書來?
雁字回時,
月滿西樓。

花自飄零水自流。
一種相思,
兩處閒愁。
此情無計可消除,
才下眉頭,
卻上心頭。

No comments:

Post a Comment