金陵道中

瘦馬馱詩天一涯
倦鳥呼愁村數家
撲頭飛柳花
與人添鬓華

On My Way to Jinling                        Qiao Ji (1280-1345)  江紹倫譯

Tune: Leaning on Railings

Like a skinny horse burdened by poetry I strayed
Weary birds wailing pass lone villages on their way
Willow catkins shedding all over my head
As if my hair greys too slowly yet

卜算子

缺月挂疏桐
漏斷人初靜
誰見幽人獨往來
缥缈孤鴻影

驚起卻回頭
有恨無人省
揀盡寒枝不肯棲
寂寞沙洲冷

Written at Dinghui Abbey      Su Shi (1037-1101)     江紹倫譯

Tune: Song of Divination

On a dwindling plain tree hangs a waning moon
The water clock stops the man remains still
Who sees a hermit pacing alone
Like an appearing and disappearing swan shadow

Startled he turns his head
With grief none would know
Scaling all trees he won’t perch on a branch dead
Preferring a lone cold sandbank instead

東風未肯入東門
走馬還尋去歲村
人似秋鸿来有信
事如春夢了無痕

江城白酒三杯釅
野老蒼顏一笑溫
已約年年為此會
故人不用賦招魂

Looking for Spring                 Su Shi (1037-1101)              江紹倫譯

East winds are unwilling to enter the East Gate
Looking for a familiar village I ride in haste
Like autumn swan old friends are punctual going on date
In spring dreams past events are gone leaving no trace

Three cups of wine in Riverside Town may keep me late
An old man’s warm smile urges me to hurry as I may
As we have agreed to meet every year on this day
Why my dear friend must I be so earnest to see your face

怕愁貪睡獨開遲
自恐冰容不入時
故作小红桃杏色
尚餘孤瘦雪霜姿
寒心未肯随春態
酒暈無端上玉肌
詩老不知梅格在
更看綠葉與青枝

To Pink Mume             Su Shi (1037-1101)                江紹倫譯

You blossom late fearing grief and loving to sleep
With an icy face you are concerned for being out of date
With touches of apricot and peach rouges your face so neat
In frost or snow your lonely grace is ever on vivid display
Your heart calm and cool you will not flirt like spring
Your dimple appears naturally to enliven your jade-like face
Poets know not how to fully describe your amazing grace
They say your beauty is seen amid branches and green foliage