南唐李后主

          帘外雨潺潺，春意阑珊。
罗衾不耐五更寒。
梦里不知身是客，一晌贪欢。

         独自莫凭栏，无限江山，
别时容易见时难。
流水落花春去也，天上人间。

In the Tune of “Waves Sifting Sand”          Li Yu (937-978)

Tr. YK Chan 陈耀国译

Outside the curtain rain sprinkles: Spring is wearing off.

Silk bedding cannot fend off the fifth-watch chill.

Lost in dreamland I know not myself as a guest—indulging in pleasure for the moment.

I ought not to be alone looking out by the railings: boundless kingdom,

Parting is easy but returning is hard.

Water flowing, flowers dropping—spring’s gone, to homeland in heaven!