Laijon Liu (06/27/1975 / Dalian, China)

Yong Yu Yue (Forever Meet Melody)
By Li Qingzhao (1084-1155)
Translate by Laijon Liu 20091103

Setting sun like melting gold
Rosy clouds blanketing the blue sky
Where is the one in my thought?

Willows painted green
Smoke rising from every house
I played the plum melody non stop
But the spring understood me not!

Ah, January Fifteenth again
Night lanterns all lighted
Weather mild and warm
But how can we be sure
There won’t be sudden rains and wind?

My friends came and greeted
Riding in beautiful wagons
To their drink feast and poetry club
But I declined their invite

Oh, I still remembered the holidays
In our state of the good old days
So many, I skipped
Yet only prepared for this Lantern Day

The emerald pendant on my hat
Gold twist and silver trim jacket
And all the colorful strap and belts

But now, with my haggardness,
And this wind blown foggy hair,
How could I go out at this night?

It would be better for me
Just sit under the blind
And hear other’s laughter and talk.

Note:
Some say this poem was composed when the poet’s husband lay in sickness in other state.

Chinese:
永 遇 乐
李 清 照

落 日 熔 金 ，
暮 云 合 璧 ，
人 在 何 处 ？

染 柳 烟 浓 ，
吹 梅 笛 怨 ，
春 意 知 几 许 ？

元 宵 佳 节 ，
融 和 天 气 ，
次 第 岂 无 风 雨 ？

来 相 召 ，
香 车 宝 马 ，
谢 他 酒 朋 诗 侣 。

中 州 盛 日 ，
闺 门 多 暇 ，
记 得 偏 重 三 五 。

铺 翠 冠 儿 、
捻 金 雪 柳 ，
簇 带 争 济 楚 。

如 今 憔 悴 ，
风 鬟 雾 鬓 ，
怕 见 夜 间 出 去 。

不 如 向 ，
帘 儿 底 下 ，
听 人 笑 语 。