Jiangnan Song

Do not return to the king for some days; sunflowers and wild grains will serve the people. Store your money in your belt; the autumn winds stir your silks.

Colorful hibisci are boundless; the red quilts fold over the cold waves. This autumn night is so long: I feel lonely in the golden boudoir.

Atop the bridge, it is difficult for the purple martin to take flight; the phoenix intends to die before the mirror. Thinking and remembering, yet not seeing, the king, Jiangnan dreams of being ferried west, above the clouds of Longxi Mountain.

The day before yesterday, the book was wet with tears—there’s no need to inspect the pomegranate skirt.

 

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江南曲 (“Jiangnan Song,” literally “Southern Yangtze Town Song”)

別君復幾日，葵稆當門多。刀錢重腰帶，秋風動綺羅。

七彩芙蓉帳，紅衾疊寒波。秋夜長如此，寂寞金閨裡。

樑上難同紫燕飛，鏡前擬作青鸞死。思君憶君不見君，江南夢化隴西雲。

前日緘書渾是淚，不須更驗石榴裙。