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Young Lord: Weak Willows Weave a Thousand Threads
English Poetic Translation
Weak willows weave a thousand trailing threads,
Soft gold is spread where crows begin to cry.
Cold chills the gauze, though spring is barely here,
Swept by a sudden bout of wind and rain.
I ask the swallows when they wing their way
Beside the green stream and the bridge's road:
Within the painted tower long ago,
Did you perchance behold that certain one?
I picture her behind closed cloudy blinds,
Where dust collects on quiet, upturned strings.
Like Yu Xin's grief so vast and deep,
For whom are all these frowns gathered at the brow?
Alone in eastern winds I flick my tears,
Set adrift across the mist-veiled waves.
I ponder how to pass the idle, dragging spring,
Weary and listless through the endless day.
Beside my pillow, orioles sing a hundred notes;
They rouse me from a daze to find the fading sun
Still resting quietly upon the flowering bank.
Soft gold is spread where crows begin to cry.
Cold chills the gauze, though spring is barely here,
Swept by a sudden bout of wind and rain.
I ask the swallows when they wing their way
Beside the green stream and the bridge's road:
Within the painted tower long ago,
Did you perchance behold that certain one?
I picture her behind closed cloudy blinds,
Where dust collects on quiet, upturned strings.
Like Yu Xin's grief so vast and deep,
For whom are all these frowns gathered at the brow?
Alone in eastern winds I flick my tears,
Set adrift across the mist-veiled waves.
I ponder how to pass the idle, dragging spring,
Weary and listless through the endless day.
Beside my pillow, orioles sing a hundred notes;
They rouse me from a daze to find the fading sun
Still resting quietly upon the flowering bank.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
弱柳絲千縷。
嫩黃勻遍鴉啼處。
寒入羅衣春尚淺，過一番風雨。
問燕子來時，綠水橋邊路。
曾畫樓、見個人人否。
料靜掩雲窗，塵滿哀弦危柱。
庾信愁如許。
爲誰都著眉端聚。
獨立東風彈淚眼，寄煙波東去。
念永晝春閒，人倦如何度。
閒傍枕、百囀黃鸝語。
喚覺來厭厭，殘照依然花塢。
嫩黃勻遍鴉啼處。
寒入羅衣春尚淺，過一番風雨。
問燕子來時，綠水橋邊路。
曾畫樓、見個人人否。
料靜掩雲窗，塵滿哀弦危柱。
庾信愁如許。
爲誰都著眉端聚。
獨立東風彈淚眼，寄煙波東去。
念永晝春閒，人倦如何度。
閒傍枕、百囀黃鸝語。
喚覺來厭厭，殘照依然花塢。
Philological Direct Translation
Weak willows threads a thousand strands.
Tender yellow spreads evenly where crows cry.
Cold enters gauze robes spring still shallow, passing one bout of wind and rain.
Asking swallows when they come, green water bridge side road.
Once painted tower, saw that person or not.
Surmising quietly closing cloud window, dust fills sorrowful strings high bridges.
Yu Xin's sorrow is thus.
For whom all gathered at the brow tip.
Standing alone east wind flicking tearful eyes, sent mist waves eastward going.
Thinking long day spring idle, person weary how to pass.
Casually leaning beside pillow, hundred turning orioles speak.
Awakened coming languid, lingering glow still flower bank.
Tender yellow spreads evenly where crows cry.
Cold enters gauze robes spring still shallow, passing one bout of wind and rain.
Asking swallows when they come, green water bridge side road.
Once painted tower, saw that person or not.
Surmising quietly closing cloud window, dust fills sorrowful strings high bridges.
Yu Xin's sorrow is thus.
For whom all gathered at the brow tip.
Standing alone east wind flicking tearful eyes, sent mist waves eastward going.
Thinking long day spring idle, person weary how to pass.
Casually leaning beside pillow, hundred turning orioles speak.
Awakened coming languid, lingering glow still flower bank.