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Alone Unseen
English Poetic Translation
Within the fragrance-plastered hall the youthful bride laments,
While twin-born swallows nest upon the tortoiseshell-veined beams.
The ninth month's frozen washing-blocks quicken the falling leaves;
For ten long years her husband serves beyond the Liaoyang streams.
North of the White Wolf River, all letters have run dry;
South of the Vermilion Gate, the autumn nights are dread.
Who knows the quiet agony of one who stays unseen,
While the cold moon illuminates her empty silken bed?
While twin-born swallows nest upon the tortoiseshell-veined beams.
The ninth month's frozen washing-blocks quicken the falling leaves;
For ten long years her husband serves beyond the Liaoyang streams.
North of the White Wolf River, all letters have run dry;
South of the Vermilion Gate, the autumn nights are dread.
Who knows the quiet agony of one who stays unseen,
While the cold moon illuminates her empty silken bed?
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
盧家小婦鬱金堂，海燕雙棲玳瑁梁。
九月寒砧催下葉，十年征戍憶遼陽。
白狼河北音書斷，丹鳳城南秋夜長。
誰知含愁獨不見，使妾明月照流黃。
九月寒砧催下葉，十年征戍憶遼陽。
白狼河北音書斷，丹鳳城南秋夜長。
誰知含愁獨不見，使妾明月照流黃。
Philological Direct Translation
Lu family's young wife turmeric hall,
sea swallows paired dwell hawksbill beams.
ninth month cold fulling-blocks urge falling leaves,
ten years military service remembers Liaoyang.
White Wolf river north news letters severed,
Vermilion Bird gate south autumn night long.
who knows holding sorrow alone unseen,
causes me bright moon shines on raw silk screen.
sea swallows paired dwell hawksbill beams.
ninth month cold fulling-blocks urge falling leaves,
ten years military service remembers Liaoyang.
White Wolf river north news letters severed,
Vermilion Bird gate south autumn night long.
who knows holding sorrow alone unseen,
causes me bright moon shines on raw silk screen.