A Farewell Toast to the Spring Season
(a poem with borrowed verses)
--to the tune of Nanxiangzi
Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo')
English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Feb. 2025)
A farewell toast to the spring season,
An ancient grief on fallen crimsons.
At a Chu town the heart drains away
in a poor sap invisible on the margin;
Not to mention, the sorrow’s coupled
by the chasing tunes on flute and Qin!
On Homeview Platform all music ends.
The lingering vibe stirs homesick longing.
For a forgotten wanderer not yet forgiven,
The view appears clearer in the distance;
Every inch of his burning expectation
Has now turned into cold ash of incense.
For appreciation:
In the Song Dynasty, a distinctive form of intellectual entertainment at social gatherings involved a gentleman crafting a poem where each line was borrowed from a renowned historical verse. This required a strong memory of numerous poems to spontaneously reshape them into a new poem with a fresh theme. It was a highly sophisticated endeavor, often more challenging than composing an original piece. Every line in this poem was borrowed except for two linking words in the first stanza and two in the second. The reader is entertained with seemingly familiar lines, but the clever intertwining association brings a good laugh over wine.The original lines were sourced from eight poems by famous Tang Dynasty poets—Du Mu, Du Fu, Xu Hui, and Li Shangyin.
This poem reflects the poet's despair during his banishment in Huangzhou. The longer he remained there, the less hopeful he felt about being recalled to the Court. The first stanza focuses on his career, while the second stanza addresses his desire to return to his hometown, hinting an early retirement.
南乡子. 集句
原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋）
怅望送春怀，渐老逢春能几回？花落楚城愁远别，伤怀 ；何况清丝急管吹！
吟断望乡台，万里归心独上来。景物登临闲时见，徘徊；一寸相思一寸灰！
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