錦瑟
錦瑟無端五十弦，一弦一柱憶華年。莊生曉夢迷蝴蝶，望帝春心化杜鵑。滄海月明珠有淚，藍田日暖玉生煙。此情可待成追憶，只是當時已惘然。
An Ancient Zither
This ancient zither by chance has fifty strings,
Each to recall a blooming year’s happenings.
At dawn, Chuangzi woke perplexed.
By his dream of the butterfly he was vexed.
At his death, King Wang’s soul was reborn
Into a cuckoo, over faded springs, to weep and mourn.
Under the vast sea, with bright moonlight,
Pearls from teardrops could be in sight.
Under a warm sun, from every hill,
Many spots with mists, jade mines fill.
I can wait to recall what happens today.
Only by then my memory will be in disarray.



嫦娥
雲母屏風燭影深，長河漸落曉星沉；嫦娥應悔偷靈藥，碧海青天夜夜心。
The Moon Goddess, Chang E
Upon a mica screen, the candle casts a deep shadow.
The Milky Way slowly wanes, with dawn stars on the go.
Of her stolen elixir, Chang E should repent,
Each night, over the green sea and blue sky, in woe.



無題，其十五
重帷深下莫愁堂，臥後清宵細細長。神女生涯原是夢，小姑居處本無郎。風波不信菱枝弱，月露誰教桂葉香。直道相思了無益，未妨惆悵是清狂。

Untitled, no.15
Drapes in layers hang fully down in my room.
To me in bed, long and quiet the night has grown.
The love life of the Goddess at Wu Hill was but a dream.
The Young Maid by the Brook was always single and alone.

Wind and wave heed not water caltrops and their suppleness.
Moon and dew shun osmanthus leaves and their fragrance.
Even though being lovesick is no help at all,
Of being a little crazy, let this rueful soul take the chance.


無題，其六
來是空言去絕縱，月斜樓上五更鐘。夢為遠別啼難喚，書被催成墨未濃。蠟照半籠金翡翠，麝薰微度繡芙蓉。劉郎已恨蓬山遠，更隔蓬山一萬重。

Untitled, no. 6
You have left without a trace.
Empty is the promise you will appear.
On the tower falls slanting moonlight.
The fifth night-watch I hear.

I dreamed about your leaving on a long trip
Which my words and tears could not turn back.
Then, I write you a letter in haste
Before my ink gets thick and black.

On my emerald screen with gold inlays,
Dim candlelight is shed.
Through my bed-curtain with embroidered hibiscus,
The faint smell of musk is spread.

Master Liu met a fairy at the Immortals’ mountain
And already lamented the long distance in his day.
Comparing myself with the fairy,
I am ten thousand times farther away.


無題，其四
相見時難別亦南，東風無力百花殘。春蠶到死絲方盡，蠟炬成灰淚始乾。曉鏡但愁雲鬢改，夜吟應覺月光寒。蓬山此去無多路，青鳥殷勤為探看。

Untitled, no.4
It is hard to meet each other,
Equally hard to part.
The east wind is waning.
A hundred flowers are falling apart.

Until it dies, a silkworm
Spins silk on and on.
The candle sheds its tears
Until all the wax is gone.

Looking into a mirror at dawn,
Over the changes of your cloud-like hair, you fret.
Chanting poetry by night,
The chill of moonlight I get.

My love, like a fairy at Penglai,
Stays not too far from me.
Blue Bird, please visit and get news from her.
My earnest messenger, you will be.