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Watching the Sea Tide: Gazing over Hangzhou
English Poetic Translation
Plum blossoms fade to sparse and pale,
Ice melts away in vernal gales,
The eastern wind steals years unseen.
Through storied alleys of the past,
Where golden youths would gallop fast,
We walked the level sands, newborn and clean.
Ah, I recall that foolish chase,
When following carriages lost their place,
While catkins flew and butterflies took flight,
And tangled longings stirred the spring's delight.
Beneath green willows, peach-strewn ways
Divided spring through towns and quiet days.
In Western Gardens, reeds would play
While night-long banquets slipped away;
Bright lanterns vied to dim the moon,
And carriage canopies obscured the bloom.
The orchid bowers still remain,
Though we grow old in grief and rain;
Returning here, what tears must fall
To view the ruins of it all.
Through darkening mist, wine banners lean;
From lofty towers, my gaze is keen,
Where roosting crows cross darkening skies.
My homeward heart, with quiet sighs,
Drifts on the stream where waters run
Toward the world's end, beneath the setting sun.
Ice melts away in vernal gales,
The eastern wind steals years unseen.
Through storied alleys of the past,
Where golden youths would gallop fast,
We walked the level sands, newborn and clean.
Ah, I recall that foolish chase,
When following carriages lost their place,
While catkins flew and butterflies took flight,
And tangled longings stirred the spring's delight.
Beneath green willows, peach-strewn ways
Divided spring through towns and quiet days.
In Western Gardens, reeds would play
While night-long banquets slipped away;
Bright lanterns vied to dim the moon,
And carriage canopies obscured the bloom.
The orchid bowers still remain,
Though we grow old in grief and rain;
Returning here, what tears must fall
To view the ruins of it all.
Through darkening mist, wine banners lean;
From lofty towers, my gaze is keen,
Where roosting crows cross darkening skies.
My homeward heart, with quiet sighs,
Drifts on the stream where waters run
Toward the world's end, beneath the setting sun.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
梅英疏淡，冰澌溶泄，東風暗換年華。
金谷俊遊，銅駝巷陌，新晴細履平沙。
長記誤隨車。
正絮翻蝶舞，芳思交加。
柳下桃蹊，亂分春色到人家。
西園夜飲鳴笳。
有華燈礙月，飛蓋妨花。
蘭苑未空，行人漸老，重來是事堪嗟。
煙暝酒旗斜。
但倚樓極目，時見棲鴉。
無奈歸心。
暗隨流水到天涯。
金谷俊遊，銅駝巷陌，新晴細履平沙。
長記誤隨車。
正絮翻蝶舞，芳思交加。
柳下桃蹊，亂分春色到人家。
西園夜飲鳴笳。
有華燈礙月，飛蓋妨花。
蘭苑未空，行人漸老，重來是事堪嗟。
煙暝酒旗斜。
但倚樓極目，時見棲鴉。
無奈歸心。
暗隨流水到天涯。
Philological Direct Translation
Plum blossoms sparse and pale, ice floes melting and draining, eastern wind secretly changes the years.
Golden Valley dashing excursions, Bronze Camel alleys and paths, newly cleared weather fine steps on level sand.
Ever I remember mistakenly following the carriage.
Just as catkins turn and butterflies dance, fragrant thoughts intertwine.
Under willows peach footpaths, disorderly divide spring colors reaching people's homes.
Western Garden night drinking sounding reed pipes.
There are brilliant lamps obstructing the moon, flying carriage canopies hindering flowers.
Orchid gardens not yet empty, travelers gradually aging, coming again all matters are lamentable.
Mist darkens wine banners leaning.
Only leaning on the tower straining the gaze, at times seeing roosting crows.
Helpless homeward heart.
Darkly follows flowing water to the edge of heaven.
Golden Valley dashing excursions, Bronze Camel alleys and paths, newly cleared weather fine steps on level sand.
Ever I remember mistakenly following the carriage.
Just as catkins turn and butterflies dance, fragrant thoughts intertwine.
Under willows peach footpaths, disorderly divide spring colors reaching people's homes.
Western Garden night drinking sounding reed pipes.
There are brilliant lamps obstructing the moon, flying carriage canopies hindering flowers.
Orchid gardens not yet empty, travelers gradually aging, coming again all matters are lamentable.
Mist darkens wine banners leaning.
Only leaning on the tower straining the gaze, at times seeing roosting crows.
Helpless homeward heart.
Darkly follows flowing water to the edge of heaven.