Palace Song
- Poetry of Li Shangyin

《齐宫词》

English Rendering

Your favor, like eastward-flowing water, has no stay;

Gaining it, I dread its loss; losing it, I pine away.

Before the cup, oh, do not play the tune “Flowers Fall” —

The cold wind waits already by the western palace wall.

Original Text (中文原文)

永寿兵来夜不扃，金莲无复印中庭。

梁台歌管三更罢，犹自风摇九子铃。

Analysis & Context

This poem by Li Shangyin belongs to the genre of palace laments, yet its significance extends far beyond typical boudoir grievances. It is deeply rooted in the poet’s keen observation of the political environment in the late Tang dynasty and his own career experiences. Having spent many years moving between various military governors’ offices and navigating the circles of the powerful, Li Shangyin had an intimate and sober understanding of the dependent relationships that defined officialdom—relationships centered on the unpredictable favor of the ruler or superior. Here, "the ruler’s favor" can refer literally to the emperor’s affection for his consorts, or metaphorically to the patronage and advancement bestowed by those in power upon their subordinates.

Reader's Companion

The Essence of the Verse

Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.

Reading Between the Lines

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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