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Slow Stone Prefecture: Light Rain and Departing Sorrow
English Poetic Translation
A light mist of rain, a sudden early chill,
Slant sunlight plays on clearing skies,
And spring stretches in empty, vast expanse.
By the long pavilion, willow boughs wind in golden threads,
Where the distant traveler was first to snap a parting branch.
Mists drift low across the water's edge,
Framing a scatter of homeward-bound crows,
As the eastern wind dissolves the northern snows.
I still remember when I first arrived,
It was precisely this same season.
Now, poised to leave.
In painted towers, fragrant wine is poured,
Amidst red tears and clear-toned songs,
That plunge us straight into a desolate farewell.
Already months and years have slipped away,
Messages and tidings have grown faint and still.
Would you measure the depths of this square inch of heart,
To see how much quiet sorrow it can hold?
Like unopened plantain leaves, like clove buds tightly curled.
In vain I strain my eyes across the distant horizon,
While wind and moon weary us both.
Slant sunlight plays on clearing skies,
And spring stretches in empty, vast expanse.
By the long pavilion, willow boughs wind in golden threads,
Where the distant traveler was first to snap a parting branch.
Mists drift low across the water's edge,
Framing a scatter of homeward-bound crows,
As the eastern wind dissolves the northern snows.
I still remember when I first arrived,
It was precisely this same season.
Now, poised to leave.
In painted towers, fragrant wine is poured,
Amidst red tears and clear-toned songs,
That plunge us straight into a desolate farewell.
Already months and years have slipped away,
Messages and tidings have grown faint and still.
Would you measure the depths of this square inch of heart,
To see how much quiet sorrow it can hold?
Like unopened plantain leaves, like clove buds tightly curled.
In vain I strain my eyes across the distant horizon,
While wind and moon weary us both.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
薄雨初寒，斜照弄晴，春意空闊。
長亭柳色纏黃，遠客一枝先折。
煙橫水際，映帶幾點歸鴉，東風銷盡龍沙雪。
還記初關來，恰而今時節。
將發。
畫樓芳酒，紅淚清歌，頓成清別。
已是經年，杳杳音塵多絕。
欲知方寸，共有幾許清愁，芭蕉不展丁香結。
枉望斷天涯，兩厭厭風月。
長亭柳色纏黃，遠客一枝先折。
煙橫水際，映帶幾點歸鴉，東風銷盡龍沙雪。
還記初關來，恰而今時節。
將發。
畫樓芳酒，紅淚清歌，頓成清別。
已是經年，杳杳音塵多絕。
欲知方寸，共有幾許清愁，芭蕉不展丁香結。
枉望斷天涯，兩厭厭風月。
Philological Direct Translation
Light rain early cold, oblique sunshine plays clear, spring meaning empty wide.
Long pavilion willow color wraps yellow, distant guest one branch first broken.
Mist crosses water edge, reflects wears several spots returning crows, east wind melts completely dragon sand snow.
Still remember first pass come, exactly now time season.
About to depart.
Painted tower fragrant wine, red tears clear song, suddenly become bitter parting.
Already is passing year, dim dim sound dust mostly cut off.
Want to know square inch heart, altogether have how much clear sorrow, plantain does not unroll clove knot.
In vain gaze break horizon, both weary weary wind moon.
Long pavilion willow color wraps yellow, distant guest one branch first broken.
Mist crosses water edge, reflects wears several spots returning crows, east wind melts completely dragon sand snow.
Still remember first pass come, exactly now time season.
About to depart.
Painted tower fragrant wine, red tears clear song, suddenly become bitter parting.
Already is passing year, dim dim sound dust mostly cut off.
Want to know square inch heart, altogether have how much clear sorrow, plantain does not unroll clove knot.
In vain gaze break horizon, both weary weary wind moon.