Liu Yong: On The River And Mirror'd Sky, Falls The E'ening Rain 柳永 對瀟瀟暮雨灑江天 一番洗清秋 Poem by Frank Yue

TUNE: 8-Rhyme Border Song (Ci)
TITLE: On the river and mirror'd sky
- by Liu Yong （987? －1053? ）(Northern Song Dynasty)
- Translated by Frank C Yue

On the river and mirror'd sky, falls the e'ening rain,
Washing out afresh for all, Autumn's crispness again.
The Frost is drawing near gradually,
Winds blow stronger with more chill -
Desolate the rills and hills,
On houses shines the dying Sun feebly.
Reds a-falling, greens receding everywhere,
Ev'rything's losing its former glory right there.
Only the Yangtze - speechless -
Towards the East flows e'er ceaseless...

I dare not climb up any tower high
To gaze afar at where my hometown may hide;
Curb e'er my nostalgic thoughts, how could I?
Reviewing my odyssey, I sigh -
Why at this sad place I still abide?
I believe My Fair is constantly looking in vain
Out of her boudoir window like a fool,
Mistaking it's my returning boat, time and again.
Don't you know, My Love dear, but I am too,
By the railing,
in your direction sadly gazing?



八聲甘州　北宋　柳永

對瀟瀟暮雨灑江天，一番洗清秋。
漸霜風淒慘(緊)，關河冷落，殘照當樓。
是處紅衰翠減，苒苒物華休。
惟有長江水，無語東流。　　

不忍登高臨遠，望故鄉渺邈，歸思難收。
歎年來蹤跡，何事苦淹留。
想佳人、妝樓顒望，誤幾回、天際識歸舟。
爭知我、倚闌干處，正恁凝愁(眸)。