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Water Dragon Tune: Passing Spring
English Poetic Translation
The wind and rain rushed through the night;
In our old garden, flowers must be nearly gone.
Sorrow upon sorrow, at its peak,
Carelessly squandering a year of fragrant intent.
Willows droop, blossoms languish drowsily,
Apricots turn green and plums grow small,
Easily mocking human grief.
We reckon spring stays long, and fine flowers are always seen,
Yet it is only the human heart that withers.
Turning back to past days south of the pond,
I hate my frost-speckled temples, too heavy to recall.
Now I have only old eyes that watch the flowers fade,
And clear tears shed for a grieving era.
I do not fear meeting blossoms grown thin and frail,
I only dread the aging flavor of life itself.
Where crimson petals scatter in wild confusion,
Let me detain the clouds and borrow the moon,
And drink until I am utterly lost in wine.
In our old garden, flowers must be nearly gone.
Sorrow upon sorrow, at its peak,
Carelessly squandering a year of fragrant intent.
Willows droop, blossoms languish drowsily,
Apricots turn green and plums grow small,
Easily mocking human grief.
We reckon spring stays long, and fine flowers are always seen,
Yet it is only the human heart that withers.
Turning back to past days south of the pond,
I hate my frost-speckled temples, too heavy to recall.
Now I have only old eyes that watch the flowers fade,
And clear tears shed for a grieving era.
I do not fear meeting blossoms grown thin and frail,
I only dread the aging flavor of life itself.
Where crimson petals scatter in wild confusion,
Let me detain the clouds and borrow the moon,
And drink until I am utterly lost in wine.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
夜來風雨匆匆，故園定是花無幾。
愁多愁極，等閒孤負，一年芳意。
柳困花慵，杏青梅小，對人容易。
算好春長在，好花長見，元只是、人憔悴。
回首池南舊事。
恨星星、不堪重記。
如今但有，看花老眼，傷時清淚。
不怕逢花瘦，只愁怕、老來風味。
待繁紅亂處，留雲借月，也須拼醉。
愁多愁極，等閒孤負，一年芳意。
柳困花慵，杏青梅小，對人容易。
算好春長在，好花長見，元只是、人憔悴。
回首池南舊事。
恨星星、不堪重記。
如今但有，看花老眼，傷時清淚。
不怕逢花瘦，只愁怕、老來風味。
待繁紅亂處，留雲借月，也須拼醉。
Philological Direct Translation
Night-coming wind and rain hastily, old garden surely is flowers without many.
Sorrow much sorrow extreme, lightly failing, one year fragrant intent.
Willow tired flower drowsy, apricot green plum small, facing people easily.
Calculating good spring long present, good flowers long seen, originally only is, person haggard.
Looking back pool south old matters.
Regretting star-like temples, unbearable heavy remembering.
Now only has, watching flowers old eyes, grieving times clear tears.
Not fearing meeting flowers thin, only worrying fearing, old coming flavor.
Waiting red luxuriant chaotic place, keeping clouds borrowing moon, also must risk drunkenness.
Sorrow much sorrow extreme, lightly failing, one year fragrant intent.
Willow tired flower drowsy, apricot green plum small, facing people easily.
Calculating good spring long present, good flowers long seen, originally only is, person haggard.
Looking back pool south old matters.
Regretting star-like temples, unbearable heavy remembering.
Now only has, watching flowers old eyes, grieving times clear tears.
Not fearing meeting flowers thin, only worrying fearing, old coming flavor.
Waiting red luxuriant chaotic place, keeping clouds borrowing moon, also must risk drunkenness.