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Spring in the Han Palace: Blossoms of the River Plum
English Poetic Translation
Free-spirited river plum,
amid sparse bamboo crests,
splaying two or three stray boughs.
The Eastern Emperor shows no tender care,
as heavy snows and bitter frosts oppress.
While heartless swallows,
fearing the vernal chill, lightly miss the flowering hour.
Yet year by year,
the frontier wild geese return,
having witnessed its blossoms in their prime.
Clear, shallow stream like a strip of white silk,
ask the resplendent jade hall how it compares
to this thatched hut and sparse brush fence.
How heartbreaking since my old friend departed,
leaving new verses cold and neglected.
Faint clouds and pale moon
over the boundless river sky—to whom can I confide this?
In vain I cherish
its pure fragrance, undiminished,
its peerless grace known to none.
amid sparse bamboo crests,
splaying two or three stray boughs.
The Eastern Emperor shows no tender care,
as heavy snows and bitter frosts oppress.
While heartless swallows,
fearing the vernal chill, lightly miss the flowering hour.
Yet year by year,
the frontier wild geese return,
having witnessed its blossoms in their prime.
Clear, shallow stream like a strip of white silk,
ask the resplendent jade hall how it compares
to this thatched hut and sparse brush fence.
How heartbreaking since my old friend departed,
leaving new verses cold and neglected.
Faint clouds and pale moon
over the boundless river sky—to whom can I confide this?
In vain I cherish
its pure fragrance, undiminished,
its peerless grace known to none.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
瀟灑江梅，向竹梢疏處，橫兩三枝。
東君也不愛惜，雪壓霜欺。
無情燕子，怕春寒、輕失花期。
卻是有，年年塞雁，歸來曾見開時。
清淺小溪如練，問玉堂何似，茅舍疏籬。
傷心故人去後，冷落新詩。
微雲淡月，對江天、分付他誰。
空自憶，清香未減，風流不在人知。
東君也不愛惜，雪壓霜欺。
無情燕子，怕春寒、輕失花期。
卻是有，年年塞雁，歸來曾見開時。
清淺小溪如練，問玉堂何似，茅舍疏籬。
傷心故人去後，冷落新詩。
微雲淡月，對江天、分付他誰。
空自憶，清香未減，風流不在人知。
Philological Direct Translation
Free and easy river plum,
toward bamboo treetops sparse place,
crossing two three branches.
East Lord also not cherishing,
snow presses frost deceives.
Heartless swallows,
fearing spring cold, lightly missing flower season.
Yet there are,
year after year frontier geese,
returning once saw blooming time.
Clear shallow small brook like white silk,
asking jade hall what resembles,
thatched hut sparse fence.
Heartbreaking old friend departed after,
desolate new poems.
Faint clouds pale moon,
facing river sky, entrusted to whom else.
Vainly self-remembering,
pure fragrance not diminished,
elegant charm not in people knowing.
toward bamboo treetops sparse place,
crossing two three branches.
East Lord also not cherishing,
snow presses frost deceives.
Heartless swallows,
fearing spring cold, lightly missing flower season.
Yet there are,
year after year frontier geese,
returning once saw blooming time.
Clear shallow small brook like white silk,
asking jade hall what resembles,
thatched hut sparse fence.
Heartbreaking old friend departed after,
desolate new poems.
Faint clouds pale moon,
facing river sky, entrusted to whom else.
Vainly self-remembering,
pure fragrance not diminished,
elegant charm not in people knowing.