4月16日

〈虞美人〉聽雨
宋 蔣捷 ( 1245~1301 )

少年聽雨歌樓上，紅燭昏羅帳。
壯年聽雨客舟中，江闊雲低，斷雁叫西風。
而今聽雨僧廬下，鬢已星星也！
悲歡離合總無情，一任階前，點滴到天明。

──選自《竹山詞》

April 16th

Listening to the Rain
Tune: The Beautiful Lady Yu
Jiang Jie (1245 - 1301, Song Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

In my youth,
I listened to the rain from inside the brothel;
In the dim light of the red candle, the bed curtain.

In my prime,
I listened to the rain from a passenger boat;
The river was wide and clouds low,
Stray wild geese howling, in the west wind.

Now,
I listen to the rain from inside the monastery;
My temple hairs, already covered in white!

Always cruel are life’s moments of
sadness, joy, separation, and union;
So just allow the drops of rain to tap on the steps,
until dawn breaks.

── from Zhushan Ci (Lyrics of Zhushan)