Along the shore of the Chu River, I see Queen Xiang 1 again. She
subtly reveals the spring spirit. I remain silent, but I cannot stop my tears
from falling. The blossoms lean against the east wind in vain. Who can
understand their yearnings? The autumn chill is endless on Ling-bo (ride the
waves) Road. Fragrant clouds rise in the wake of steps. The narcissuses remind
me of the Palm of a God 2 standing tall under the bright moon in the
Han Palace.
Ice threads 3 contain more passion when expressed as sorrow. Poets
write poems on fragrant orchids and serene grass to no avail. Spring spirits are
distant. Who will appreciate the special beauty of the blossom of a narcissus?
The blossoms and I are companions in the winter. By the clean small window my
green sleeves are immersed in dense incense smoke. When awakening from my
dreams, I see the dewy blossoms waving in the lamp shadows.
1
"Shui-xian" is Chinese for "narcissus". Literally, "Shui-xian" means the
goddess of water and Queen Xiang means the patron goddess of the Xiang River.
Here Queen Xiang refers to narcissuses.
2
Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty built the Palm of a God holding a plate to
accept divine dew. Here the Palm of a God refers to the blossom of a narcissus.
If one can visualize the stem of a narcissus as the god's arm, then the blossom
of a narcissus will be the god's palm. The poem "Peonies" written by Shang-yin
Li says, "The hanging hands (peonies) rashly play with the jade ornaments on my
belt."