Exists There (为有) by Li Shangyin (李商隐), in English

Exists there a wondrous beauty behind a clouded screen,
most fearing brief spring nights with the cold’s annual passing.
It was senseless to marry off to a wealthy husband;
Court calls him forth in the morn, his back turned to their sweet bed.

Original Text
为有云屏无限娇,凤城寒尽怕春宵。
无端嫁得金龟婿,辜负香衾事早朝。

Translator’s Notes
The original was seven-character quatrains, so I made do with fourteen-syllable verses.
This one is pretty straightforward; the lady’s lonely in wintertime.

2 thoughts on “Exists There (为有) by Li Shangyin (李商隐), in English

  1. Ooh I remember this one from Golden Stage!
    Great idea this collection of poems! Thank you very much for the hard work 🙂

    Like

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