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To the Tune of He Xin Lang: Pomegranate Blossoms and Summer Solitude
English Poetic Translation
Young swallows skim across the painted eaves.
All is still; paulownia shadows shift at noon, refreshed from an evening bath.
Her fingers toy with a white silk round fan,
where fan and hand are polished jade alike.
Weariness steals in; she drifts into light, solitary sleep.
Who knocks upon the embroidered door beyond the curtain,
breaking the music of her jade terrace dream in vain?
It is only the wind tapping against the bamboo.
Pomegranates half-open like puckered crimson scarves,
waiting for all the reckless blossoms to fade
so they may keep company with your hidden solitude.
Look closely upon a single brilliant branch:
its fragrant heart is bound in a thousand folds,
yet dreading the autumn wind that turns the verdure chill.
Should you finally arrive to stand before this spot,
seated with wine before the flowers, we could not bear to touch them—
our powdered tears falling together in a silent shower.
All is still; paulownia shadows shift at noon, refreshed from an evening bath.
Her fingers toy with a white silk round fan,
where fan and hand are polished jade alike.
Weariness steals in; she drifts into light, solitary sleep.
Who knocks upon the embroidered door beyond the curtain,
breaking the music of her jade terrace dream in vain?
It is only the wind tapping against the bamboo.
Pomegranates half-open like puckered crimson scarves,
waiting for all the reckless blossoms to fade
so they may keep company with your hidden solitude.
Look closely upon a single brilliant branch:
its fragrant heart is bound in a thousand folds,
yet dreading the autumn wind that turns the verdure chill.
Should you finally arrive to stand before this spot,
seated with wine before the flowers, we could not bear to touch them—
our powdered tears falling together in a silent shower.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
乳燕飛華屋。
悄無人、桐陰轉午，晚涼新浴。
手弄生綃白團扇，扇手一時似玉。
漸困倚、孤眠清熟。
簾外誰來推繡戶，枉教人、夢斷瑤臺曲。
又卻是，風敲竹。
石榴半吐紅巾蹙。
待浮花、浪蕊都盡，伴君幽獨。
豔一枝細看取，芳心千重似束。
又恐被、秋風驚綠。
若待得君來向此，花前對酒不忍觸。
共粉淚，兩蔌蔌。
悄無人、桐陰轉午，晚涼新浴。
手弄生綃白團扇，扇手一時似玉。
漸困倚、孤眠清熟。
簾外誰來推繡戶，枉教人、夢斷瑤臺曲。
又卻是，風敲竹。
石榴半吐紅巾蹙。
待浮花、浪蕊都盡，伴君幽獨。
豔一枝細看取，芳心千重似束。
又恐被、秋風驚綠。
若待得君來向此，花前對酒不忍觸。
共粉淚，兩蔌蔌。
Philological Direct Translation
Suckling swallows fly over magnificent houses.
Quiet without people, paulownia shadows turn to noon, evening coolness newly bathed.
Hands play with raw silk white round fan, fan and hand at once resemble jade.
Gradually weary leaning, solitary sleep pure and sound.
Outside the blind who comes pushing carved doors, in vain causing one, dream broken at Jade Terrace melody.
Yet again it is, wind knocking against bamboo.
Pomegranates half spit red kerchiefs puckered.
Waiting for floating flowers, wild stamens all finished, to accompany your secluded solitude.
Brilliant one branch closely examine, fragrant heart a thousand layers like bound.
Also fearing being, autumn wind startling green.
If waiting until you come facing this, before flowers confronting wine unable to bear touching.
Together with powder tears, both falling in rustling showers.
Quiet without people, paulownia shadows turn to noon, evening coolness newly bathed.
Hands play with raw silk white round fan, fan and hand at once resemble jade.
Gradually weary leaning, solitary sleep pure and sound.
Outside the blind who comes pushing carved doors, in vain causing one, dream broken at Jade Terrace melody.
Yet again it is, wind knocking against bamboo.
Pomegranates half spit red kerchiefs puckered.
Waiting for floating flowers, wild stamens all finished, to accompany your secluded solitude.
Brilliant one branch closely examine, fragrant heart a thousand layers like bound.
Also fearing being, autumn wind startling green.
If waiting until you come facing this, before flowers confronting wine unable to bear touching.
Together with powder tears, both falling in rustling showers.