Addie Luo’s Translation of Li Qingzhao

Wuling Spring

The wind settles, the dust aromatic—flowers have perished
Lethargically tending hair and countenance at nightfall
The surroundings the same, the people no more, the past stalls
Desire to speak, but have tears to recall

Springtime at Twin Creek is still gorgeous, I hear
Even planning a light voyage on boat, I steer
The slender boat at Twin Creek, I fear
Bears not the weight of my sorrow, so drear.

Original:

武陵春

風住塵香花已盡，日晚倦梳頭。物是人非事事休，欲語淚先流。
聞說雙溪春尚好，也擬泛輕舟。只恐雙溪舴艋舟，載不動許多愁。

Creekside Pavilion—a Sunset to Remember
Remembering the sunset at Creekside Pavilion, as usual.
Heavily inebriated on my way back, the route irretrievable.
Returning late to the boat as enthusiasm exhausted.
Going deeply astray in the lotus was accidental.

Paddled, I paddled,
soaring, a flock of herons startled.

Original:

如夢令·常記溪亭日暮
常記溪亭日暮，沉醉不知歸路。
興盡晚回舟，誤入藕花深處。
爭渡，爭渡，驚起一灘鷗鷺。

From the Flower Peddler’s Yoke
From the flower peddler’s yoke,
The one blossoming into spring—I pick.
A slightly teary luster,
Traces of dew glowing at sunrise, after.

What if he speculates,
that beside the flower I’m not as exquisite.
An ornament finds its perch in luxurious hair,
merely my intention to ask him to compare.

Original:

減字木蘭花·賣花擔上

賣花擔上。買得一枝春欲放。淚染輕勻。猶帶彤霞曉露痕。
怕郎猜道。奴面不如花面好。雲鬢斜簪。徒要教郎比並看。

Hazy, Gloomy, an Entire Day of Sorrow
Hazy, gloomy, an entire day of sorrow.
Smoldering, vanishing, Ambergris for the golden beast to swallow.
On the day of Chrysanthemum Festival,
Jade headrest, organza shield,penetrating chill drenched the midnight, thorough.

Wine sipping at the mum garden until dusk follows.
Faint balm crept into my sleeve, filled the hollow.
Don’t say this doesn’t devour the soul.
The curtain swirls in the west wind,
unveiled, gaunter than the floret in yellow.

Original:

醉花陰·薄霧濃雲愁永晝

薄霧濃雲愁永晝，瑞腦銷金獸。佳節又重陽，玉枕紗廚，半夜涼初透。
東籬把酒黃昏後，有暗香盈袖。莫道不銷魂，簾卷西風，人比黃花瘦。

Herald of Spring Arrives in the Snow
In the snow, herald of spring arrives,
On voluptuous boughs, wintry plums alight.
Bashfully blossoming, cheeks charmingly delight.
In the court outside,
Beauty leaves the bath and dons a fresh guise.

Nature, perhaps, has contrived,
to sparkle the earth with moon bright.
Golden vessels to admire, cloudy drinks to imbibe.
Intoxication is not to defy.
Never with others will this flower identify.

Original:

漁家傲·雪裏已知春信至

雪裏已知春信至。寒梅點綴瓊枝膩。香臉半開嬌旖旎。當庭際。玉人浴出新妝洗。
造化可能偏有意。故教明月玲瓏地。共賞金尊沈綠蟻。莫辭醉。此花不與羣花比。