《Song of Wife in Chang Gang》__ Li Bai (701-762)

妾髮初覆額  While my hair was cut covering my forehead straight
折花門前劇  I played with flowers plucked from my front gate
郎騎竹馬來  Riding on bamboo stilts you entered the scene
遶床弄青梅  Like a pair of green plums we played together so keen
同居長干里  As neighbours at Chang Gann Lane
兩小無嫌猜  We shared one another’s joy with no guessing

十四為君婦  I was fourteen when I became your loving bride
羞顏未嘗開  Bashful I often cast off any feelings of delight
低頭向暗壁  Lying sideways I turned to face the wall on my side
喚千不一回  Daring not to respond to your loving calls a thousand times

十五始展眉  At fifteen I opened my brows to find myself
願同塵與灰  And decided to be with you in sickness or in health
常存抱柱信 You declared to die rather than to betray our ties
豈上望夫臺 Who would know then I need to look for you all my life

十六君遠行  At sixteen you left to roam afar
瞿塘灩澦堆  O’er river canyons studded with boulders large
五月不可觸  Where spring tides wreck boats sailing near
猿鳴天上哀  As frightened gibbons wail asking heaven to interfere

門前遲行跡  I count your every step outside our door
一一生綠苔  Mosses now grow covering them all
苔深不能掃  They penetrate so deep no sweeping will clear them away
落葉秋風早  Early autumn winds are hurrying leaves to frail
八月蝴蝶來  Butterflies arrive waiting not for August to appear
雙飛西園草  They pair to fly all over our garden spheres
感此傷妾心  Watching all these hurts my body and soul
坐愁紅顏老  As I sit in solitude waiting to grow old

早晚下三巴  One day you may decide to leave the gorges for home
預將書報家  Do remember to send me a message to let me know
相迎不道遠  To meet you I will walk to earth’s end
直至長風沙  Stopping not even where winds and sands assault the land