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Tune: Clearing Rain
English Poetic Translation
Fading night mists lift, spring songbirds fall still, and scattered rain taps the high eaves. Along the garden walls, green jade banners of bamboo wash free of leaden frost, their tender tips entwining. Dampness tightens the zither silk, chill creeps past the screen to the pillow, and drifting webs brush the bamboo blinds. Here in the empty relay station, I listen to the endless drip from the eaves, drifting into a heavy, half-woke sleep.
Sudden grief breaks the dream; so fragile it leaves no trace, and self-pity deepens my solitude. The traveler's longing to return is urgent, dreading above all else that rushing floods might mire his cart. How bear this desolation? Like Yu Xin in his decline, like Wei Qing worn thin, every passing moment wounds the eye and heart. No wonder the guest of Pingyang sheds double tears at the sorrowful notes of the flute, while all around lies a desolate realm of green weeds. Red petals scatter across the earth, and at the gate the wild cherries cluster like beans. Night has fallen—with whom could I ever hold a candle to roam?
Sudden grief breaks the dream; so fragile it leaves no trace, and self-pity deepens my solitude. The traveler's longing to return is urgent, dreading above all else that rushing floods might mire his cart. How bear this desolation? Like Yu Xin in his decline, like Wei Qing worn thin, every passing moment wounds the eye and heart. No wonder the guest of Pingyang sheds double tears at the sorrowful notes of the flute, while all around lies a desolate realm of green weeds. Red petals scatter across the earth, and at the gate the wild cherries cluster like beans. Night has fallen—with whom could I ever hold a candle to roam?
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
對宿煙收，春禽靜，飛雨時鳴高屋。
牆頭青玉旆，洗鉛霜都盡，嫩梢相觸。
潤逼琴絲，寒侵枕障，蟲網吹沾簾竹。
郵亭無人處，聽檐聲不斷，困眠初熟。
奈愁極頓驚，夢輕難記，自憐幽獨。
行人歸意速。
最先念、流潦妨車轂。
怎奈向、蘭成憔悴，衛清羸，等閒時、易傷心目。
未怪平陽客，雙淚落、笛中哀曲。
況蕭索、青蕪國。
紅糝鋪地，門外荊桃如菽。
夜遊共誰秉燭。
牆頭青玉旆，洗鉛霜都盡，嫩梢相觸。
潤逼琴絲，寒侵枕障，蟲網吹沾簾竹。
郵亭無人處，聽檐聲不斷，困眠初熟。
奈愁極頓驚，夢輕難記，自憐幽獨。
行人歸意速。
最先念、流潦妨車轂。
怎奈向、蘭成憔悴，衛清羸，等閒時、易傷心目。
未怪平陽客，雙淚落、笛中哀曲。
況蕭索、青蕪國。
紅糝鋪地，門外荊桃如菽。
夜遊共誰秉燭。
Philological Direct Translation
Facing overnight smoke gathering, spring birds are quiet, flying rain at times sounds on high roofs.
Wall heads green jade banners, washed lead frost all gone, tender twig tips touching each other.
Moisture presses zither strings, cold invades pillow screens, insect webs blown touch curtain bamboo.
Post station uninhabited place, listening eaves sound unbroken, drowsy sleep just ripening.
How to bear sorrow extreme suddenly startling, dream light difficult to remember, self-pitying secluded solitude.
Wayfarer returning intention swift.
First of all thinking, floodwaters hinder cart hubs.
How to face, Yu Xin haggard, Wei Qing emaciated, casually time, easily wounding heart and eyes.
Not strange Pingyang guest, double tears falling, flute inside sorrowful tune.
Furthermore desolate, green weed country.
Red fragments spread earth, outside gate cherry plum like beans.
Night roaming with whom holding candle.
Wall heads green jade banners, washed lead frost all gone, tender twig tips touching each other.
Moisture presses zither strings, cold invades pillow screens, insect webs blown touch curtain bamboo.
Post station uninhabited place, listening eaves sound unbroken, drowsy sleep just ripening.
How to bear sorrow extreme suddenly startling, dream light difficult to remember, self-pitying secluded solitude.
Wayfarer returning intention swift.
First of all thinking, floodwaters hinder cart hubs.
How to face, Yu Xin haggard, Wei Qing emaciated, casually time, easily wounding heart and eyes.
Not strange Pingyang guest, double tears falling, flute inside sorrowful tune.
Furthermore desolate, green weed country.
Red fragments spread earth, outside gate cherry plum like beans.
Night roaming with whom holding candle.