The West Building (To the Tune of Dielianhua)
- Poetry of Yan Jidao

《蝶恋花·醉别西楼》

English Rendering

What happened in the parting, in my cups

in the west building, I cannot remember, waking

from a drunk sleep.

Dreams in the spring,

Clouds in the autumn.

It is easy to meet, and to part too.

The moon slanting through the window,

I lie sleepless. The pained screen

unfolds, at its leisure,

the verdant southern mountains.


The wine-stains on the clothes,

the words in the poem, line

upon line, drop after drop,

all speak of melancholy.

Even the red candle feels helpless,

in the cold night, shedding tears

for me, in vain.

The West Building (To the Tune of Dielianhua) by Yan Jidao
The West Building (To the Tune of Dielianhua) by Yan Jidao

Original Text (中文原文)

醉别西楼醒不记。

春梦秋云,聚散真容易。

斜月半窗还少睡,画屏闲展吴山翠。


衣上酒痕诗里字,点点行行,总是凄凉意。

红烛自怜无好计,夜寒空替人垂泪。

Analysis & Context

By Yan Jidao

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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