林花谢了春红，
太匆匆，
无奈朝来寒雨晚来风。
胭脂泪，
留人醉，
几时重，
自是人生长恨水长东。

In the tune of “Crow Calling at Night”^*                

Li Yu (937-978)

Translation by YK Chan 陈耀国译: 

Flowers in the grove falling: gone is spring’s brilliance,

Too hastily and soon;

Chilling rain at morn and evening breeze bring helpless gloom.

Blood-rouge tears–

Bewildering but endeared,

When could there be recurrence?

Life-long regrets forever flow like a river thence.

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*又名《相见欢》、《秋夜月》、《上西楼》。This tune title is also known as

“Rendezvous Joy”, “Moonlit Fall Evening”, or “Ascending Western Block”.