Prelude to Water Melody
- Poetry of Huang Tingjian

《水调歌头·游览》

English Rendering

How could grass be so green?O Spring 

Enters the fairy stream,

Where countless peach blooms beam,

And on the branch of the tree golden orioles sing.

I try to find a way through the flowers so gay,

Straight into clouds so white 

To breathe a rainbow bright,

But I'm afraid in the depth of the flowers in my view,

My sleeves would be wet with rosy dew.


I sit on a stone and 

Lean on a pillow of jade,

A tune on golden lute is played.

Where is the poet of the fairyland?

Who would drink up with me my spiral cup?

I come to seek for the immortal's trace,

Not for the rouged lips and powdered face.

Why should I long,long croon?

Drunk,I would dance downhill soon,

Followed by the bright moon.

Prelude to Water Melody by Huang Tingjian
Prelude to Water Melody by Huang Tingjian

Original Text (中文原文)

瑶草一何碧,春入武陵溪。

溪上桃花无数,枝上有黄鹂。

我欲穿花寻路,直入白云深处,浩气展虹霓。

只恐花深里,红露湿人衣。

坐玉石,倚玉枕,拂金徽。

谪仙何处?无人伴我白螺杯。

我为灵芝仙草,不为朱唇丹脸,长啸亦何为?

醉舞下山去,明月逐人归。

Analysis & Context

This poem reflects the poet's worldly outlook symbolized by rouged lips and pourkered face.and otheruorhily ouiook symbolized by the immorial poet in the fuiryland. who refers to Li Bui (701-7621)

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The Essence of the Verse

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Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.

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