Zhou Bangyan

I burn an incense sweet 

To temper steamy heat.

Birds chirp at dawn beneath the eaves,

Announcing a fine day.The rising sun

Has dried last night's raindrops on lotus leaves 

Which,clear and round,dot water surface.One by one 

The lotus blooms stand up with ease 

And swing in morning breeze.

My homeland is far away,

When may I return to stay?

My kinsfolk live in South by city wall.

Why should I stay long in the capital?

Will not my fishing friends remember me in May?

In a short-oared light boat,it seems,

I'm back 'mid lotus blooms in dreams.

The candle flames redden the breeze;

The lotus lanterns seem to freeze.

The sky brightens the fair and the fair the sky.

The titles are steeped in moonlight

When fleecy clouds disperse in flight,

The Moon Goddess would come down from on high.

In elegant dress appear

The southern maidens tender

With waist so slender.

The drums boom far and near,

The crowd’s shadows rise and fall,

Fragrance wafts over all. 

I remember the capital’s lantern night:

A thousand doors overwhelmed with light,

People made merry in laughter.

From golden cabs silk handkerchiefs dropped down,

The gallants ran after

The cabs as dim dust raised by steeds in the town.

But years have passed

Now I see only for my part

With an unfeeling heart

How time flies fast.

The cabs will not come back again

And people have sung and danced in vain.

Autumn’s now cloudy and now fine,

Gradually on the decline.

It turns dreary and chill

In a courtyard still.

I stand to listen to cold breeze;

In thick clouds I see no wild geese. 

No one is left deep in the silent night,

But lonely candle sheds on lonely walls its light.

Awake from wine and autumn song,

How can I pass this endless night so long?

Bamboos over the lane form a canopy green;

On new lotus leaves raindrops leap and pound like tears.

By zigzag railings a poolside pavilion appears.

Swallows come back in haste when wind rolls window-screen;

Fish start when the fan's shadow in water sways.

The setting sun on willow lips sheds parting rays.

The crow feels restless,startled by moonlight,

The waterclock drips out as later grows the night,

The windlass lifts water from the well painted gold.

She wakes me with her beaming eyes so bright,

I find the pillow wet with tears and cold.

I take her hand in mine when the frosty wind blows 

And her soft-lift hair on her forehead flows.

I'm loath to leave

But it will further grieve 

To hear her bid adieu.

She can see from upstairs the stars'Plough in the sky 

While I am far away,my mantle damp with dew,

And hear cocks'crow arouse some echoes far and nigh.

The rain drizzled in that morning,

the spring hasn't come to my attic.

Rose and willow leaves cried for no reason,

a small swallow flew slowly in the rain.

Now sunshine paints my boudoir,

spring sleeps on the twig of peach tree.

On the bridge i stand silently listening to the rain

that day we were so happy to be tied in loving chain.

Your face blushes like the girl lives in palace.

Natural beauty in your eyes twinkles.

We've belonged to each other,

eyes to eyes,heart to heart,

Sorry i have to leave you soon,

really hope i've never seen you.

Red candlelight flickers,

good time always ends too quick.

Who sang the sad song in past?

you're just too far from me.

Everything has changed beyond our plans,

Cry and cry,sigh and sigh,

where are you waiting for me?

roses bloom,swallows come,at courtyard i wander lonely.