The jade table mirror at this time every year
- Poetry of Li Qingzhao

《生查子·年年玉镜台》
The jade table mirror at this time every year by Li Qingzhao
中文原文( Chinese )

年年玉镜台，梅蕊宫妆困。

今岁未还家，怕见江南信。

酒从别后疏，泪向愁中尽。

遥想楚云深，人远天涯近。

English Translation

The jade table mirror at this time every year

would see her brow wearing the plum flower.

This year it gets bored to find her alone in here;

A mail from River South may seize her in fear.


She’s refrained from wine since parting there,

but can’t hold from falling her running tears.

She could feel clouds over him now gathering,

so far away even the world’s edge seems near.

The fear mentioned could be a strong hint about her father’s shaky situation at the Royal Court where the old party and the new party are fighting like dogs and cats right now. And her concern was witnessed later as her father, together with many others following Su Dongpo were been heavily punished and banished far away from the political stage. So the ‘clouds over him’ could refer to the heated power fight well recorded in all history books. We could imagine the depression felt by Yi’an about her family as well as about the fate of Southern Song.

- Last updated: 2024-09-30 21:49:50
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How to read a Chinese poem?
Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.

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