Li Shangyin Poems

Li Shangyin’s Poetry – – 李商隐《寄令狐郎中》

寄令狐郎中[1] 嵩云秦树久离居, 双鲤[2]迢迢一纸书。 休问梁园[3]旧宾客, 茂陵[4]秋雨病相如。 这是作者于845年在洛阳回寄给长安故友令狐绹的一首诗,率真诚恳。嵩、秦分指诗人所在的洛阳和令狐绹所在的长安。 注释: [1]令狐郎中:即令狐绹,当时在朝中任考功郎中。 [2]双鲤:指书信。古乐府《饮马长城窟行》:“客从远方来,遗我双鲤鱼。呼童烹鲤鱼,中有尺素书。” [3]梁园:汉梁孝王刘武的园林,此喻指楚幕、司马相如等文士都曾客游梁园。比喻自己昔年游于令狐门下。 [4]茂陵:在今陕西省咸阳市兴平县,因汉武帝陵墓而得名。司马相如因患病,家居茂陵,作者此时也卧病于洛阳。 For a Friend We’re severed long by northern cloud and western trees; Your letter’s sent to quench my thirst from far away. Don’t ask about your friend in lonely garden,please! Just read the poet sick with rainy autumn day!  

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Li Shangyin’s Poetry – – 李商隐《梦泽》

梦泽 梦泽悲风动白茅[1], 楚王[2]葬尽满城娇。 未知歌舞能多少, 虚减宫厨为细腰。 本篇是诗人途经梦泽时所作,一望无际的白茅,好似被埋葬的嫔妃宫娥采女的哀旗。楚灵王喜欢女子细腰,宫嫔们为投其所好饥饿节食,却消瘦而死,不禁让人惋惜。 注释: [1]白茅:茅草。春夏间抽生有银白色丝毛状花穗。 [2]楚王:指楚灵王。《韩非子·二柄》:“楚灵王好细腰,而国中多饿人”。《后汉书马廖传》:“楚王好细腰。宫中多(遍)饿死(殍)。” The Dreaming Lake On Dreaming Lake in biting wind pale grasses shiver; Like slender dancers buried like waves in the river. How long could they delight the monarch in the South? The royal cook might give less food to rosebud mouth. Note:The King of Chu(楚王)loved the

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Li Shangyin’s Poetry – – 李商隐《风雨》

风雨 凄凉宝剑篇[1], 羁泊欲穷年。 黄叶仍风雨, 青楼[2]自管弦。 新知遭薄俗, 旧好隔良缘。 心断新丰[3]酒, 销愁斗几千。 这首诗反映诗人较落魄的心境,怀才不遇,借酒消愁。 注释: [1]宝剑篇:唐初郭震所作。《新唐书·郭震传》载,武则天召他谈话,索其诗文,郭即呈上《宝剑篇》,中有句云:“非直接交游侠子,亦曾亲近英雄人。何言中路遭捐弃,零落飘沦古岳边。虽复沉埋无所用,犹能夜夜气冲天。”武则天看后大加称赏,立即加以重用。 [2]青楼:青色的高楼。此处指富贵人家。 [3]新丰:地名,在今陕西省西安市临潼县东,古时以产美酒闻名。 Wind and Rain As an unused sword I’m as drear. Oh,when will end my roaming year? Yellow leaves fall in winds and rains; Green mansions play strings and sing strains. My new friends are left in the cold; Can I often

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Li Shangyin’s Poetry – – 李商隐《宿骆氏亭寄怀崔雍崔衮》

宿骆氏亭寄怀崔雍崔衮[1] 竹坞无尘水槛清, 相思迢递[2]隔重城。 秋阴不散霜飞晚, 留得枯荷听雨声。 崔雍、崔兖是李商隐的从表兄弟,诗人在秋夜独自一人听雨滴打在枯荷上的声音,一边想念亲人,一边倍感落寞。 注释: [1]崔雍、崔衮:诗人表叔崔戎的儿子,李商隐的从表兄弟。 [2]迢递:遥远的样子。 For the Cui Brothers at Luo’s Pavilion In the bamboo grove by the clean poolside I stay; Separated from you by towns,I miss you far away. The autumn gloom undispersed and late frost remain; Only the withered lotus listen to the rain. Note:Passing one night at

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Li Shangyin’s Poetry – – 李商隐《赠柳》

赠柳 章台[1]从掩映, 郢[2]路更参差。 见说风流极, 来当婀娜时。 桥回行欲断, 堤远意相随[3]。 忍放花如雪, 青楼扑酒旗。 该诗描绘了春天,柳树从长安到江陵、从北到南,无处不在,秀色千里,生机勃勃的情景。意境优美,让人回味。 注释: [1]章台:汉代京城长安街道名,街旁多柳,唐代时称“章台柳”。 [2]郢:战国时期楚国的国都,位于今湖北省荆州市北。 [3]意相随:柳枝傍堤而去,遂意相随。此句既写柳,也写出诗人对柳的不舍。 To the Willow Tree I see you vibrate to and fro And then undulate high and low. You waft with grace in gentle breeze And dance so tenderly to please. No bridge can break you in a line. Though far away,you

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Li Shangyin’s Poetry – – 李商隐《忆梅》

忆梅 定定[1]住天涯, 依依向物华。 寒梅最堪恨, 常作去年花[2]。 这是李商隐任职于梓州柳仲郢幕府后期之作。寒梅先春而开、望春而凋的特点,或许让诗人想到了自己的人生,早年登第,却薄宦多病,如同先开先谢的寒梅,并不属于春天,未免有落寞飘零之感。 注释: [1]定定:滞留不动。 [2]去年花:指早梅。因为梅花在严冬开放,春天的时候梅花已经凋谢,所以称为“去年花”。 Mume Flowers Recalled So deep-rooted,so far away, How I’m attached to spring day! But I regret cold-proof mume flowers Beautified only last year’s bowers. Note:The mume flower bloomed in winter.  

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Li Shangyin’s Poetry – – 李商隐《夜雨寄北》

夜雨寄北[1] 君问归期未有期, 巴山[2]夜雨涨秋池。 何当共剪西窗烛[3], 却话巴山夜雨时。 这是李商隐的名篇之一,是诗人身处巴蜀,给远在长安的亲友的回信。纪昀曾点评此诗:“作不尽语,不免有做作态,此诗含蓄不露,却只似一气说完,故为高唱。” 注释: [1]寄北:写诗寄给北方的人。诗人当时在巴蜀(现在四川省),他的亲友在长安,这首诗表达了诗人对亲友的深刻怀念。 [2]巴山:指缙云山,在陕西南部和四川东北交界处。这里泛指巴蜀一带。 [3]剪西窗烛:剪烛,剪去燃焦的烛芯,使灯光明亮。这里形容深夜秉烛长谈。 Written on a Rainy Night to My Wife in the North You ask me when I can return,but I don’t know; It rains in western hills and autumn pools overflow. When can we trim by window side the candlelight And talk about the western hills

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Li Shangyin’s Poetry – – 李商隐《北齐 (二首其二)》

北齐 (二首其二) 巧笑知堪敌万几, 倾城最在著戎衣。 晋阳已陷休回顾, 更请君王猎一围。 “巧笑”与“万几”,一女与天下,轻重关系本来一目了然,在高纬眼中,身着戎装的淑妃显然更加迷人。晋州告急,帝妃仍然寻欢作乐,亡国已成定局,无力回天。 The Downfall of Kingdom Qi (II) How could a beauty’s smile overshadow state affair? The king was charmed by his lady in hunting dress. Of his capital in danger he did not care; He would go hunting one more round nevertheless.  

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Li Shangyin’s Poetry – – 李商隐《北齐 (二首其一)》

北齐 (二首其一) 笑相倾国便亡, 何劳荆棘始堪伤。 小怜玉体横陈夜, 已报周师入晋阳。 《北齐二首》两首诗是通过讽刺北齐后主高纬宠幸冯淑妃荒淫亡国的史实,借古鉴今。 本首借用周幽王宠褒姒而亡国的故事,讽刺“无愁天子”高纬荒淫亡国的故事。 The Downfall of Kingdom Qi (I) The king loved less his kingdom than his beauty’s smiles. Could his palace not be buried in briars for miles? His favored lady lay in bed on full display. While the foe entered his capital in array.  

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Li Shangyin’s Poetry – – 李商隐《乐游原》

乐游原[1] 向晚意不适, 驱车登古原。 夕阳无限好, 只是近黄昏。 诗人驱车登古原,不是为了寻求感慨,而是为了排遣此际的“向晚意不适”的情怀。“夕阳无限好,只是近黄昏”堪称千古名句,描绘了一幅“余晖映照,晚霞满期天,山凝胭脂,气象万千”的场面。 注释: [1]乐游原:创建于汉宣帝时,本是一处庙苑,称“乐游苑”。只因地势高敞,极目千里,人们遂以“原”呼之。 On the Plain of Imperial Tombs At dusk my heart is filled with gloom, I drive my cab to ancient tombs. The setting sun seems drunk with wine, Magnificent on the decline. Note:The Plain was a resort for merry-making.  

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