Li Qingzhao: In The Gold-Like Lion-Head Burner, Cold Incense Is Found 李清照 香冷金猊 被翻紅浪 起來慵自梳頭 Poem by Frank Yue

TUNE: Re-calling the Flute-Duet at Phoenix Terrace
-LI QINGZHAO (1084-1151)
-Translated by Frank C Yue

In the gold-like lion-head burner, cold incense is found;
Like red waves, the embroidered quilt is tossed around.
Getting out of bed, my hair I care not comb and wound.
On the pretty mirror box, let the dusts there sleep;
Now, high up to the curtain hooks the sunbeams creep.
I'm afraid of parting sorrows and longing pain.
For many things, the best results to attain -
From speaking, one must know when to abstain.
I have lost weight these few days -
It's not due to my drinking the day away,
Nor lamenting Autumn is due to decay.

Let it be, let it be! This time, you must go away!
A million times the "Parting Song" we might play,
But here, these shall never make you stay!
The visitor at Peach-Blossom Country has strayed far and long;
Lingering mists still lock onto the Phoenix Terrace strong.
In front of our Qin mansion -only the flowing waters gay
Will not forget me -this is where I shall fix my gaze all day.
Where my pining gaze is fixed each long day,
A layer of new sorrows, again, is laid!


(2013.10.03)


【鳳凰台上億吹蕭】 南宋 • 李清照

香冷金猊，被翻紅浪，起來慵自梳頭。 任寶奩塵滿，日上簾鉤。
生怕離懷別苦，多少事，欲說還休。 新來瘦，非干病酒，不是悲秋。

休休！這回去也，千萬遍《陽關》，也則難留。念武陵人遠，煙鎖秦樓。
惟有樓前流水，應念我、終日凝眸。凝眸處，從今又添、一段新愁。