Zhang Xian

The weather is such that a moment's warmth could suddenly a slight chill become,

Then comes evening before the wind and rain come to a stop.

Quiet and empty is the courtyard, drawing near is the vernal equinox,

Here I am drinking among remnants of blossoms,

With the same sentimental malaise from last year I am struck.

Sobering is the sound of bugles blaring from the watch tower carried by the wind,

Deep into the night locked behind gates and doors is stillness.

Unbearable is what the bright moon conveys

Through the wall, the shadow of a swing.

A Xiang River melody comes from a zither played plaintively,

Its every note depicts every green river ripple of Xiang expressively.

Slender fingers over thirteen strings

Stroke and pluck her deep lament delicately.

During the banquet, her eyes languors show,

The zither neck placed at a slant the manner of dashing geese imitate.

When her play comes to a segment that is most mournful,

Her brows are like mountains in spring overcast with clouds that hang low.

There rise chirps of cuckoos, again they have come to call blossoms' end.

To seize spring, I longingly pick flowers' colourful remains.

Sudden rains and stormy winds the season of green plums commence.

Over the Yongfeng grounds, there's no one but drifting catkins all day.

Stroke not even a string, for it can such reticent bitterness express.

Unless the heavens mortal becomes, my love will never be laid to rest,

My heart is a cobweb doubled over, tied and knotted with a million frets.

The night is nearly over, the lamp has burnt out, the day hasn't broken yet.

The green plain extends far and wide,

The azure sky hangs over waterside.

The endless river flows with ripples purified.

On willowy lanes there's no man in sight;

The willow falls down without shadow in flight.

People come back,drowned in slanting sunlight.

Girt with long belt and dressed with thin sleeves,

Girls vie in plucking flowers and green leaves.

They know how to tread on the waves,it seems,

On misty rivershore spring dreams.

Newly adorned with tassels red and ribbons green,

They live behind embroidered screen.

The painted boat goes without breeze.

The golden phoenix on the pipa sings with ease.

Who knows if the woe old or new is played?

Big and small pearls run riot on the plate of jade.

Flowers and eyebrows vie in beauty in vain.

Listen again！

When the princess sings of her dream,

It will calm down the moon and the stream.

The lotus blooms in outer lake grow high and low;

After the rain over green hills fly the gulls white.

The painted boats on rippling water slowly go;

Our shadows move on mirror bright.

Two maidens sing the song of peach leaf in voices low,

Clad in light clothes apricot-red.

They come back with green shadow fed.

You wore the green dress on the feast,

at first time i saw you,

your makeup is light,smiled like the jasmine

in the silent spring.

What a pulchritudinous angel you are

at the first i saw you.

You seemed to come from the mountain,

those clouds still remained on your dress.

How long can i not think of you?

Nothing is more strong than love.

Sadness lets willow leaves drift in the rain,

your horse has gone far,

dust is still flying,

where could i hear your loving whispers again?

Two ducks play happily in the pond,

south and north are all the boat.

I lean on the attic where moonshine shines,

stay here i just think

it's better that i become the sakuras.

At least,sakuras can marry the east wind.

I drink the wine to listen to love song,

my mind gets clear but not my sorrow.

Those beautiful days has gone,will they come back?

Face the mirror,what a faded flower,

the love you gave me now is only in the memory.

On the seaside two birds snuggle together,

Pierces into cloud,moonshine sprinkles on lavenders.

turn off the candles,but my heart is still kindling for you.

Wind breezes me in this midnight,

tomorrow the fallen petals shall spread on the courtyard like snow.