Palace of Celebration Spring: Water Chestnut Waves
- Poetry of Jiang Kui

Double oars stir water chestnut waves,

A straw cloak brushes through pine-kissed rain—

Dusk’s sorrow slowly fills the vast expanse.

I call to my gull allies:

They dip and soar as if to land,

Then glide past treetops, leaving me behind.

That time I returned alone,

My lone boat cut through clouds and snow,

Sailing into the night.

Now, heart heavy, I see again

Those faintly traced eyebrow peaks,

Their dark contours pressing low.

Along the Perfume-Gathering Path, spring chills linger.

An old man sways drunkenly,

Singing to himself—who answers?

Gazing west toward Hanging Rainbow Bridge,

I long to drift away with the wind—

This urge, lifelong, remains untamed.

Sobered, I find waves have carried the past afar.

Lost in thought, I see her still:

Jade hairpins, white silk socks...

Where is she now?

Only the railings remain,

Keeping me fleeting company.

双桨莼波，一蓑松雨，暮愁渐满空阔。

呼我盟鸥，翩翩欲下，背人还过木末。

那回归去，荡云雪、孤舟夜发。

伤心重见，依约眉山，黛痕低压。

采香径里春寒，老子婆娑，自歌谁答？

垂虹西望，飘然引去，此兴平生难遏。

酒醒波远，正凝想、明挡素袜。

如今安在？惟有阑干，伴人一霎。