To the Tune of "Springtime in Wu-ling City" 1
Li, Qing-zhao (1084-1155 CE)
The wind stops blowing and all the flowers have fallen.
Even the dust and dirt are fragrant.
The sun rises high,
But I am too weary to brush my hair.
The world remains the same.
Only people have become different now;
Everything meaningful to me has gone.
I try to speak,
But my tears flow before I can.
Having heard that the springtime at Shuang Creek 2 is pleasant,
I intend to ride in a boat there.
My only worry is
That the grasshopper boat 3 will not be able to carry all my
sorrow.
Notes
1 This poem was written shortly after Li's husband passed away. The following
three video files have the same title, "Springtime in Wu-ling City":
http://www.56.com/u59/v_NDcxMTY2NTY.html
http://www.56.com/u32/v_NTg5MDAzNTc.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCa08v0407U&feature=related
2 "Shuang" means "pair" or "couple". Shuang Creek is located in present day
Jin-hua-xian City of Zhejiang Province. In her later years Qing-zhao Li sought
refuge with her younger brother and lived in his mansion at Jin-hua City. Jin-hua
City is now called Jin-hua-xian City.
3 "The grasshopper boat" refers to a small boat.
