4月16日

〈唐多令〉惜別
宋 吳文英 ( 1200~1260 )

何處合成愁？離人心上秋。
縱芭蕉不雨也颼颼，都道晚涼天氣好。
有明月，怕登樓。
年事夢中休，花空煙水流。
燕辭歸，客尚淹留。
垂柳不縈裙帶住，謾長是、繫行舟。

──選自《花菴詞選續集》

April 16th

Reluctant to Part
Tune: Tang Ditty
Wu Wenying (1200 - 1260, Song Dynasty)
English translation: John Balcom

Where has the character for worries come from?
Those departing have the mind of autumn.

Though it does not rain,
    one hears the wind through the plantains.
They all say that the nights are cool,
    and the weather is fine.

The moon is bright,
But I fear ascending the tower.

In my dreams, the years and happenings stop,
There are no flowers, the misty river flows.

The swallows bid adieu,
But the guest remains.

The weeping willows have not encircled and held him fast,
Still, long, long,
Has the boat remained docked.

── from Hua’an Cixuan Xuji (Sequel of Selected Verses from the Flower Hut)