It rains on the pool as the light thunder rumbles beyond the willow trees.
The raindrops patter upon the lotus petals. A rainbow on the west corner of the
little tower grows brightly. She leans against a banister in solitude, waiting
for the moon to rise. A swallow flies over to peek at the picturesque pillars.
She pulls a jade hook to draw down the curtain. As she lies on a smooth, colored
bed-matt, the cool air waves do not move. Beside a pair of crystal-colored
pillows, a dropped hairpin lies horizontally.
1
General Wei-yan Qian held a party in his backyard. One courtesan and Xiu Ou-yang
arrived late. The general asked the courtesan why she was late. She replied, "I
took a nap in the cool room. When I awoke, I found I had lost my hairpin." The
general said, "I will return it to you after I ask Ou-yang for a poem."
Consequently, Xiu Ou-yang
improvised as he wrote this poem.