Chinese Literature

Lu You Poem: Riverside Daffodils · Leaving Guozhou – 陆游《临江仙·离果州作》

临江仙离果州[1]作陆游鸠雨[2]催成新绿，燕泥收尽残红[3]。春光还与美人同：论心空眷眷，分袂却匆匆。只道真情易写，那知怨句难工。水流云散各西东。半廊花院月，一帽柳桥风。注释： [1]果州：今四川省南充。 [2]鸠雨：相传鹁鸠鸟，阴天就赶走它的配偶，晴天便呼唤它归来。三国吴时陆玑《毛诗草木鸟兽虫鱼疏》卷下载鸠鸟“阴则屏逐其匹，晴则呼之。语曰‘天将雨，鸠逐妇’是也”。陆游《秋阴》诗：“雨来鸠有语。”陆游祖父陆佃所作的《埤雅》亦引之。 [3]“燕泥”句：燕子把伴有落花的春泥都衔去筑巢了。 Riverside Daffodils · Leaving Guozhou Lu You The drizzling rain hastens grass to green the place; Swallows peck clods blended with fallen red. Spring is as beautiful as a rosy face; With a lingering heart She’s unwilling […]

Lu You Poem: Riverside Daffodils · Leaving Guozhou – 陆游《临江仙·离果州作》 Read More »

Lu You Poem: Magnolia Flower · Spring Day – 陆游《木兰花·立春日作》

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木兰花立春日作陆游三年流落巴山道。破尽青衫尘满帽。身如西瀼[1]渡头云，愁抵瞿塘关上草。春盘[2]春酒年年好。试戴银旛[3]判[4]醉倒。今朝一岁大家添，不是人间偏我老。注释： [1]西瀼：瀼水分西瀼、东瀼，都在今重庆市奉节县境内。 [2]春盘：唐宋以后，立春之日有食春饼与生菜之俗。饼与生菜以盘装之，即称为春盘。 [3]旛：一种用双丝绢帛剪成的小幡，叫作春幡。或称幡胜、春胜，在立春那天，作为节日礼物，或簪于头上，或桂在柳枝上，抑或贴于屏风。 [4]判：“拼”，拼酒。 Magnolia Flower · Spring Day Lu You A roamer from the east to the west for three years, Worn out in my blue gown, dusty my hat appears. Like floating cloud over the ferry of west stream, Or

Lu You Poem: Magnolia Flower · Spring Day – 陆游《木兰花·立春日作》 Read More »

Chen Yuyi Poem: Riverside Daffodils · Mount the Tower at Night to Recall the Former Visit in Luo Zhong – 陈与义《临江仙·夜登小阁忆洛中旧游》

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临江仙夜登小阁忆洛中旧游陈与义忆昔午桥桥上饮，坐中多是豪英。长沟流月去无声。杏花疏影里，吹笛到天明。二十余年如一梦，此身虽在堪惊。闲登小阁看新晴。古今多少事，渔唱起三更。 Riverside Daffodils · Mount the Tower at Night to Recall the Former Visit in Luo Zhong Chen Yuyi I still remember drinking on the Bridge of Noon With bright wits of the day. The silent moon On endless river rolled away. In

Chen Yuyi Poem: Riverside Daffodils · Mount the Tower at Night to Recall the Former Visit in Luo Zhong – 陈与义《临江仙·夜登小阁忆洛中旧游》 Read More »

Li Qingzhao Poem: Joy of Eternal Union – 李清照《永遇乐·落日熔金》

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永遇乐李清照落日镕金[1]，暮云合璧[2]，人在何处。染柳烟浓，吹梅笛怨[3]，春意知几许。元宵佳节，融和天气，次第[4]岂无风雨。来相召、香车宝马，谢他酒朋诗侣。中州[5]盛日，闺门多暇，记得偏重[6]三五[7]。铺翠冠儿[8]，捻金雪柳[9]，簇带[10]争济楚[11]。如今憔悴，风鬟霜鬓[12]，怕见[13]夜间出去。不如向、帘儿底下，听人笑语。注释： [1]落日镕金：落日之色像熔化了的黄金。 [2]合璧：像璧玉一样合成一块。璧，平圆形而中有孔的玉。 [3]吹梅笛怨：指笛子吹出《梅花落》曲幽怨的声音。李白《与史郎中钦听黄鹤楼上吹笛》：“黄鹤楼中吹玉笛，江城五月落梅花。”落梅花，即《梅花落》曲，兼指梅花之落。《乐府诗集》卷二十四《横吹曲辞》：“《梅花落》，本笛中曲也。” [4]次第：接着，转眼。 [5]中州：今河南一带，上古为豫州，因为在九州中心，所以称中州。这里“中州”是指东京汴梁（今开封市）。 [6]偏重：特别看重。 [7]三五：正月十五元宵节。 [8]铺翠冠儿：饰有翠羽的女式帽子。 [9]捻金雪柳：用金黄色的绸或纸扎制的雪柳。雪柳，妇女元宵节戴的一种头饰，形似柳枝。 [10]簇带：满戴着。装扮之意。 [11]济楚：整齐漂亮。宋柳永《木兰花》：“心娘自小能歌舞，举意动容皆济楚。” [12]风鬟霜鬓：形容头发蓬松散乱。 [13]怕见：怕。口语。 Joy of Eternal Union Li Qingzhao The setting sun like molten gold, Gathering clouds like

Li Qingzhao Poem: Joy of Eternal Union – 李清照《永遇乐·落日熔金》 Read More »

Li Qingzhao Poem: Slow, Slow Tune – 李清照《声声慢》

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声声慢李清照寻寻觅觅，冷冷清清，凄凄惨惨戚戚。乍暖还寒[1]时候，最难将息[2]。三杯两盏淡酒，怎敌他、晚来风急。雁过也，正伤心，却是旧时相识。满地黄花堆积。憔悴损，如今有谁堪摘。守着窗儿，独自怎生得黑。梧桐更兼细雨，到黄昏、点点滴滴。这次第[3]，怎一个愁字了得！注释： [1]乍暖还寒：指初秋天气。 [2]将息：调养休息，保养安宁。此为唐宋时方言。 [3]次第：光景，情形。 Slow, Slow Tune Li Qingzhao I look for what I miss; I know not what it is. I feel so sad, so drear, So lonely, without cheer.

Li Qingzhao Poem: Slow, Slow Tune – 李清照《声声慢》 Read More »

Zhu Dunru Poem: The Moon over the West River – 朱敦儒《西江月·日日深杯酒满》

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西江月朱敦儒日日深杯酒满，朝朝小圃花开。自歌自舞自开怀，且喜无拘无碍。青史几番春梦，红尘多少奇才。不须计较与安排，领取而今现在。 The Moon over the West River Zhu Dunru From day to day I drink my cupfuls of wine dry; From morn to morn in my small garden flowers blow. Singing and dancing, how happy am I! Glad I’m not hindered wherever I go. History consists

Zhu Dunru Poem: The Moon over the West River – 朱敦儒《西江月·日日深杯酒满》 Read More »

Zhu Dunru Poem: The Moon over the West River – 朱敦儒《西江月·世事短如春梦》

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西江月朱敦儒世事短如春梦[1]，人情薄似秋云。不须计较[2]苦劳心，万事原来有命。幸遇三杯酒好，况逢一朵花新。片时欢笑且[3]相亲，明日阴晴未定。注释： [1]春梦：春日午睡时候的短梦。 [2]计较：算计。 [3]且：姑且，聊且。 The Moon over the West River Zhu Dunru Life is as short as a spring dream; Love is fleetinglike autumn stream. Don’t on gain or loss speculate! We can’t avoid our fate. I’m lucky to have three cups of good wine.

Zhu Dunru Poem: The Moon over the West River – 朱敦儒《西江月·世事短如春梦》 Read More »

Zhu Dunru Poem: Riverside Daffodils – 朱敦儒《临江仙·堪笑一场颠倒梦》

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临江仙朱敦儒堪笑一场颠倒梦，元来恰似浮云。尘劳何事最相亲。今朝忙到夜，过腊又逢春。流水滔滔无住处，飞光匆匆西沉。世间谁是百年人。个中须著眼[1]，认取自家身。注释： [1]著眼：宋周必大《二老堂诗话》载：“朱希真致仕居嘉禾，诗词独步一世。秦丞相欲令教秦伯阳作诗，遂除鸿胪少卿。或作诗云：‘少室山人久桂冠，不知何事到长安。如今纵插梅花醉，未必王侯著眼看。’” Riverside Daffodils Zhu Dunru Laughable life is a dream of fall and rise; It’s just like a cloud floating in the skies. What business do you like best, Toiling from morning till night, From winter cold to spring bright? Water flows

Zhu Dunru Poem: Riverside Daffodils – 朱敦儒《临江仙·堪笑一场颠倒梦》 Read More »

Cao Zu Poem: Song of Divination – 曹组《卜算子·松竹翠萝寒》

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卜算子曹组松竹翠萝寒，迟日江山暮。幽径无人独自芳，此恨凭谁诉。似共梅花语，尚有寻芳侣。着意闻时不肯香，香在无心处。 Song of Divination Cao Zu You are cold among pines, bamboos and vines. When over the land the setting sun shines. Alone you’re fragrant on a lonely lane. To whom of your loneliness can you complain? With the mume blossoms you may speak, Whom lovers

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Ye Mengde Poem: Rouged Lips · Written in Summit Pavilion in 1135 – 叶梦得《点绛唇·绍兴乙卯登绝顶小亭》

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点绛唇绍兴乙卯[1]登绝顶小亭[2] 叶梦得缥缈[3]危亭，笑谈独在千峰上。与谁同赏，万里横烟浪。老去情怀，犹作天涯想[4]。空惆怅。少年豪放，莫学衰翁样。注释： [1]绍兴乙卯：宋高宗绍兴五年（1135年）。 [2]绝顶小亭：在吴兴西北卞山峰顶。 [3]缥缈：隐隐约约。 [4]天涯想：指恢复中原万里河山的想望。 Rouged Lips · Written in Summit Pavilion in 1135 Ye Mengde The frowning pavilion dimly appears; We talk and laugh above peak on peak. Who would enjoy with me, The misty waves undulating for a thousand li? Old

Ye Mengde Poem: Rouged Lips · Written in Summit Pavilion in 1135 – 叶梦得《点绛唇·绍兴乙卯登绝顶小亭》 Read More »