减字木兰花.莺初解语 Spring’s First Blush

减字木兰花.莺初解语

原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋）

英译及赏析: 闵晓红(2024.08)

莺初解语，最是一年春好处。

微雨如酥，草色远看近却无。

休辞醉倒，花不看开人易老。

莫待春回，颠倒红英间绿苔。

Spring’s First Blush

Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo')

English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Aug. 2024)

Spring’s first blush appears when orioles sing,

a warm embrace, attuned to a crisp rain.

Winter lawn wakes to a green impression—

obvious afar, obscure anear—budding spring.

Let your young heart relish her charm again.

Let your eyes feast on the blossoms bursting.

Her golden glory waits for no man behind,

who’d lament to see her weakened or fallen.

Appreciation:

This is a highly descriptive poem Su Shi sent to his younger brother on his way to a new post in February 1063, likely just after the Chinese New Year, when he had to say goodbye to his family. He was only 28, approaching 30. This poem may have been his first sigh as his youth gave way to maturity and greater social responsibilities.

The first stanza, on scenery, brings us a joyful early spring with chirping golden orioles, misty warm drizzle, and subtle changes on the lawn. The second stanza expresses his appreciation for the promise of spring and his awareness that his spring days are fleeting, so he urges his brother to cherish every beautiful moment.

‘crisp rain’(如酥) happens to be a poetic equivalent, preserving the dual sensory register (rain + bakery). What makes it work is that both meanings in English are positive, spring-associated, and tactile. A "crisp rain" feels good on the skin; a "crisp croissant" feels good in the mouth — same as the original. I'm excited to find this small miracle of cross-linguistic resonance. Sensual, clever, faithful — and uniquely possible in English.

While translating this poem in Melbourne’s early spring, my mind wandered to William Wordsworth’s “Lines Written in Early Spring” and “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”.

Reference:

1. picture from 个人图书馆360doc.com徐你一世

2. baikebaidu.com