A morning farewell to a Baidi in rainbow clouds,
A day of returning one thousand li to Jiangling.
With the unending cries of monkeys on either shore,
The light boat has since passed ten thousand heavy mountains.

Read More »

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.

In winter, the Dragon of Fire’s year, I stay ‘pon Liang’s hill.
I wish to go to Huainan, and cannot; my dream thoughts sourcing, I shall write my whims.

Read More »