A Farewell Toast to Shugu at Youmei Hall --to the ci tune “Spring River” Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Nov. 2024)   The view of Southeast is best here at the Hall - A painting of lakes, rivers and hills unrolled. When will Hangzhou honour your return call? Parting is such sweet sorrow, so cheers to all.   Look, Riversdale streets bustle up with lights on. Listen, the rhyme of night vibes with River Tune . Let’s roam the moonlit river of blue crystal   When the night seals a slumber in serene world. Notes: 1.     The Southeast: Youmei Hall faces Hangzhou’s southeast, home to local’s best landscape and most prosperous streets. 2.     Parting is such sweet sorrow: borrowed from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet , good use of oxymoron for a stronger artistic effect; Parting in life is a stretching of bonds and the sorrow is tinged with the sweetness of the memories. It anticipates meeting again. 3.     River Tune: a particular music tune for ci lyrics; 4.     the night seals a slumber: borrowed from William Wordsworth’s poem “A slumber did my spirit seal”  (1798); 5. blue crystal: dark blue crystal is associated with humanity, discretion, and honor. It’s calm energy for spiritual awakening, serenity and tranquillity; Analysis:   This is a ci poem composed at a farewell party for his superior and friend Chen Xiang ( 1017-1080 AC, social name ‘Shugu’ ). Shugu was then the governor while Su Shi, in his late thirties, was the secretary general / magistrate of Hangzhou prefecture. They represented the old party (or the shadow party) against the new party. The New Law was enacted and the Royal Court was crowded with Wang Anshi’s followers, whereas Chen Xiang and Su Shi were assigned to posts away from the capital. Hangzhou had always been a most desirable place for her landscape beauty with lakes and rivers intertwined with rolling hills.  It's a land of promise, renowned as ‘China’s Warehouse of Grains’, ‘The Land of Fish and Rice’, ‘Earth Paradise’, and, I’d add to the list, ‘a land of romance and poetry’. Chen Xiang was twenty years older and valued Su Shi’s talents. They entertained each other by echoing with new creations using the same rhyming pattern to the same song tune. They shared the same interest in their political ambition, which was to bring the quality of life in the local area to the best level under their governing period. Indeed they solved historical problems with engineering projects on the city’s water supply and West Lake blockage. A thousand years later, a most popular tourist destination still pronounces their achievements -- Lord Su Causeway. In addition, when Su Shi returned as the governor over a decade later, he built the first hospital in the world where even the prisoners were treated without discrimination. This short ci lyric is a song of praise but in a most implicit way. The first stanza ushers the readers into a beautiful setting before the farewell theme is touched with the implication that Hangzhou people will miss Shugu. The second stanza presents a prosperous city view, implying people in Hangzhou are enjoying a peaceful and gracious life under Shugu’s governance. The last two lines bear dual messages, referring to the projects and that Shugu’s devotion to people’s cause was pure in spirit like a crystal blue river under the bright moon. Indeed, they both contributed a great deal to the success of the projects. Su Shi wished that both of them would keep the same spirit in their future officialdom. 虞美人·有美堂赠述古 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 湖山信是东南美， 一望弥千里。 使君能得几回来， 便使尊前醉倒、且徘徊。   沙河塘里灯初上， 水调谁家唱。 夜阑风静欲归时， 惟有一江明月、碧琉璃。 Reference: m.gushiwen.cn (古诗文网）

Qiantang’s river tides and Lushan’s misty rain Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Dec. 2024)   Qiantang’s river tides and Lushan’s misty rain, A hunt of desire and distance drains the mind. Once there, your curious eyes will only find    Qiantang’s river tides and Lushan’s misty rain. from KKnews.cc (每日头条） Analysis:   The Zen humor under the line is associated with life’s three stages in spiritual transcendence. It resonates with the famous lines from Wei Xing, a Zen master, who said: “Before studying Buddhism, I saw the mountain and the river just as they appeared to me. After studying Buddhism, the mountain was not just a mountain; the river was not just a river. Now, the mountain and the river are still the mountain and the river. The third stage seems to have no difference from the first, as in this poem where the last line is a simple repetition of the first.”  Yes, the external world remains the same, but the monk is not the same monk anymore. With a profound understanding of Buddhism, his inner world is transformed to a whole new level. He was enlightened and gained peace in mind. Simple words for profound philosophy -- typical Zen’s way of presenting life. Legend has it that this is his last poem written for his son Su Guo, who was about to start his young career in the government.  Whether Su Shi wrote this is still under debate, but the tone, the theme, and the popular story behind it make you feel it could well be his work.     庐山烟雨浙江潮 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 庐山烟雨浙江潮， 未至千般恨不消。 到得还来别无事， 庐山烟雨浙江潮。

An Ode to Mandarins --to the musical tune The Washing Stream Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Dec. 2024)   When frost faded chrysanths and lotus leaves, Golden mandarins stand out among lush green， Framing the village cottage with bamboo railing.   The fruit bursts with a mist refreshing and sweet. The first taste cools the soul like soothing stream. The scent lingers on Wu ladies’ fingers for a week.     picture from 世界王氏网 Analysis:   This was composed in 1082 when Dongpo was still in Huangzhou as an exiled officer. Huangzhou used to be part of the Wu State in history, hence the expression ‘Wu ladies’ in the last line. Mandarines from Wu used to be fruits of tribute to the Royal family as they had the best flavor. Su Shi was a foodie and has left us many poems on food. He made some famous dishes that are still popular today and are all my favorites. His taste for food is explained in vivid detail in the second stanza – the taste, the scent, and the pleasant memory.   Chrysanthemums and lotus usually imply a good spirit of bravery and purity.  To Dongpo, every hardship could be short-lived as he could always find consolation from good food.  So when good virtue is not appreciated or ignored, good food and wine with friends would get you back on your feet. For a more affluent association, please refer to his other poems “Upon Arriving at Huangzhou”(《初到黄州》) and “ To Liu Jingwen”（《赠刘景文》）. 浣溪沙·咏橘 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 菊暗荷枯一夜霜， 新苞(bāo)绿叶照林光， 竹篱(lí)茅舍出青黄。   香雾噀(xùn)人惊半破， 清泉流齿怯(qiè)初尝， 吴姬三日手犹香。 Reference:

行香子.草际鸣蛩 原作：李清照 （宋） 英译：戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红 草际鸣蛩，惊落梧桐。 正人间天上愁浓。 云阶月地，关锁千重。 纵浮槎来，浮槎去，不相逢。 星桥鹊驾，经年才见， 想离情别恨难穷。 牵牛织女，莫是离中。 甚霎儿晴，霎儿雨，霎儿风。 In the meadow crickets startled parasol trees -- to the Tune of Xingxiangzi written by Li Qingzhao （ 1084-1155？） translated by Gordon Osing & Julia Min modified by Julia Min ( 2024) In the meadow crickets startled parasol trees Into dropping leaves, and an ancient sorrow Fills Heaven and Earth, and the lunar world Sees cloud-wrought stairs strewn with hurdles. Although he goes on boat searching to and fro, He rarely meets among the stars a single soul.   Only once in a year over the vast Starry River, Magpies gather building a bridge for the lovers, Herdsman and Weaver, just one night together. The rest of the year they won’t see each other, An endless struggle like this changing weather. Nothing stays, wind or rain, sunshine or pleasure. For appreciation: This  ci  comes from the period after the poet had moved south to avoid the conquering Jin armies, when her married life was not only interrupted by her husband's departure on official duties, but it was cast into peril for the unforeseeable future. The folktale of the Herdsman and his weaver wife is the usual one summoned to capture the perpetual remorse of lovers whose separations outnumber their times together. Notes: 1. ‘cloud-wrought stairs strewn with hurdles’: the stairs of heaven are made of clouds, the Moon goddess lives in her jade palace, an ideal domain very hard to reach. 2. ‘boat’: Legend says that there are boats sailing in Autumn and August ( Chinese Calendar) in the Starry River every year. So one man decided to set sail to the River and arrived in ten days. He saw the Herdsman with his cows on the riverbank but his wife is far away in some palace on the other side of the River. 3. ‘Herdsman and Weaver’: Just like westerners celebrate Valentine’s Day, Chinese have their celebration on July 7th (Chinese Lunar Calendar). Legend has it that the Herdsman and his weaver wife join each other on a bridge built by the birds for their brief moment. Their one reunion in a year on the "Birds' Bridge", or “Star Bridge”, as it is also called, is their punishment for disobeying Heaven's rules and loving defiantly (fairies are forbidden to marry humans). Pinyin and Word -For-Word Translation: xíng xiāng zǐ cǎo jì míng qióng ， jīng luò wú tóng 。 zhèng rén jiān tiān shàng chóu nóng 。 yún jiē yuè dì ， guān suǒ qiān zhòng 。 zòng fú chá lái ， fú chá qù ， bú xiàng féng 。 xīng qiáo què jià ， jīng nián cái jiàn ， xiǎng lí qíng bié hèn nán qióng 。 qiān niú zhī nǚ ， mò shì lí zhōng 。 shèn shà ér qíng ， shà ér yǔ ， shà ér fēng 。

A Taste of Early Spring --to the ci tune “Tide-washed Sand” Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Nov. 2024)   From the east gate of Hangzhou City, We set out for a taste of early spring. Swelled on trees are buds clothed in sheath, Over the fence the boughs of apricot trees, In scarlet motion waving the call of Spring.   The village ahead is hidden in white snow. The country road sensed a subtle fragrance. Only Spring God makes such magic happen: In a world of icy cold and pure serene, Her first whisper honoured plum blossoms. Analysis:   This little poem was composed in 1072, same period as the previous poem – “ A Farewell Toast to Shugu at Youmei Hall”. For a better understanding of the background, please refer to the annotation in this anthology. The spring theme is rather popular throughout history. What’s special here is an ingenuous blend of spring scene and spring sentiments. There’s an obvious contrast of what he saw and felt inside and outside the city wall. The city is mixed with charming flowers cluttered on boughs bowing to the pedestrians, whereas the country village in snow is blessed with the hidden grace of plum trees that were blooming in solitude in a world of pure serene. His personality and his value emerge from the contrast. Let your imagination go for the association and get to know why the Chinese poets and artists love the plum blossoms so much. 浪淘沙·探春 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 昨日出东城, 试探春情, 墙头红杏暗如倾。 槛内群芳芽未吐， 早已回春。   绮陌敛香尘, 雪霁前村。 东君用意不辞辛。 料想春光先到处， 吹绽梅英。 Reference: picture from https://so.ooopic.com/sousuo/1762538/

A Moon-night Walk at Chengtian Temple Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Nov. 2024)   It was late at night on October 12, my 4th year here at Huangzhou. I was about to undress for bed when the beaming moonlight streamed in through the window. A refreshing chemistry started to boil, yearning for a moon-night walk with a heart friend. And my feet took me to Chengtian Temple for Zhang Huanmin who happened to be there as if expecting my presence. So, together we stepped into the floodlit courtyard which was already transformed into a shimmering pool of algae strangled with water nymphs as in a crystal dream world. I shook myself for a closer look only to find it was just the reflection of the surrounding bamboo and pine trees. … …   Alas, the moon is up there every night, and so are the bamboos and pine trees everywhere. What’s fairly rare is the sight of two stranglers roaming the temple at midnight.   Notes: 1. Chengtian Temple: The historical site today is in the south of Huangzhou, Hubei Province. 2. Zhang Huaimin: social names Woquan and Mengde, a native of Qinghe, Hebei. He was a close friend and a follower of Su Shi, and, like many of his other followers, was also banished to Huangzhou where he stayed in Chengtian Temple for six years. Su Shi wrote another famous ci poem for him – “To Zhang Woquan at the Bracing Pavilion of Huangzhou”《水调歌头.黄州快哉亭赠张偓佺》  https://www.rhymesandvibes.com/post/to-zhang-woquan-at-the-bracing-pavilion-of-huangzhou-1 Analysis : This 84-word short sketch has been included in Chinese school book and many young Chinese can still recite it this day. It was written in 1083 (the sixth year of Yuanfeng, the year name of Song emperor Shenzong Zhao). Dongpo was still on parole of an indefinite period. While many other famous figures would write poems to express their depressed sentiments, Dongpo would always find his strength to accept anything coming his way and transcend beyond to a new spiritual level. Hardship not only made him stronger but also cultivated his character towards a broader mind and a freer spirit with a Daoist sense of humour which in turn invited more followers in the political realm as well as in the commoners’ world.     What I love about him, compared with other politicians and poets, is that he could always find fun or some form of satisfaction no matter what unbearable situation his political rivals put him in. Su Shi, as his first wife commented, didn’t see an enemy in anyone. Here in this desolate place he was again rich in friendship and contented with what Mother Natures offered him. The only regret was that they were supposed to be fully occupied with official duties for the country, but were arranged to enjoy such a long leisure time! Well, he didn’t know then the forthcoming assignment would put him to a high post near the throne, and all his followers would flock back to the capital soon after. 记承天寺夜游 (日记） 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 元丰六年十月十二日夜，解衣欲睡，月色入户，欣然起行。念无与为乐者，遂至承天寺寻张怀民。怀民亦未寝，相与步于中庭。庭下如积水空明，水中藻、荇交横，盖竹柏影也。何夜无月？何处无竹柏？但少闲人如吾两人者耳。 Reference: baike.baidu.com （百度百科） 百度百科.TA说 -- “脑洞趣味历史”

Last  Year at the city gate we kissed farewell (a letter per pro a young wife) --to the tune of “A Young Traveller” Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Oct. 2024)   Last year at the city gate we kissed farewell. Hangzhou snowed like catkins leaving willows. This year Spring still holds on for your way home, Catkins fly like the snow, seeking your smile.   Drinking alone by the window, curtains rolled, I asked the fair Moon to join me for a toast. She replied through the gauze in the night’s cold, Tending her light to the beam’s loving swallows. Analysis: Su Shi was at the age of 37 and held the post as the Governor/Magistrate of Hangzhou in 1074. It was probably during a social function where he was approached by a singer or a lady to write a letter on her behalf. Such scenario was pretty common back then when many women were illiterate. In the first stanza the comparison between last year and this year, in the form of antithesis, reads smoothly for a stronger impression in the readers’ mind. Catkins are often depicted in classical literature to associate with a yearning / seeking / helpless sentiment. The second stanza unrolled a touching picture of a young lady drinking alone by the moonlit window in her chamber. Classical architecture for newly married couples would usually have beams carved or painted with loving swallows, magpies, mandarin duck pair, or other creatures bearing romantic meanings in the culture. This short poem shall fall into the category of his sentimental poetry profile, which may seem pale in comparison with his highly recognised poems in the heroic and robust style.  The romantic sentiments of the young wife is rather implied under the line through symbolism rather than on the line by using words like “I miss you. ” Yet the vocabulary used is simple everyday language. 少年游·去年相送 (润州作, 代人寄远) 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 去年相送，余杭门外，飞雪似杨花。 今年春尽，杨花似雪，犹不见还家。 对酒卷帘邀明月，风露透窗纱。 恰似姮娥怜双燕，分明照、画梁斜。 Reference: m.gushiwen.cn (古诗文网）

品令.急雨惊秋晓 原作：李清照（存疑） 英译及赏析：闵晓红 急雨惊秋晓，今岁较、秋风早。 一觞一咏，更须莫负、晚风残照。 可惜莲花已谢，莲房尚小。 汀苹岸草，怎称得、人情好。 有些言语，也待醉折、荷花问道。 道与荷花，人比去年总老。 A Chasing Rain Awakes Me at Daybreak - to the tune of Pinling written by Li Qingzhao ( 12th century) trans. + annot. by Julia Min A chasing rain awakes me at daybreak. It’s the west wind, - already, autumn came! Life is nice with poems consumed with wine, and the sun is cosy though setting’s her fate.     The lotus are done with her blooming race, leaving seed-pods still small, - such a shame!   Only grassy strands and duckweeds on the lake, how could I remain as gay when spring decayed? There’re words beyond elegance and eloquence， Till you pick lotus again with a tipsy brain. - I’d ask the flower in her charming grace: “why we’re ageing but you come back the same?” Appreciation: The two Pingling ci poems (this one and “The Fallen Crimson Rouged the Ground of Mud”) have not been confirmed as Li Qingzhao’s creation due to the difference recorded in different publications. Judging from the language used, the style and structure, they could well be her works on boudoir sentiments.   Sentiments at the end of autumn are widely captured in literature, used mainly to associate with aging, declining or simply promising things coming close to the end.  Reference: Baike.baidu.com

Farewell to Lingju on Double Seventh Festival --to the tune “Celestial lovers on the Magpie Bridge” Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo') English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Sept. 2024)   Unlike the silly weaver attached to mortals, Who descended to her cowherd for their love nestle, A young soul named Ziqiao ascended on Mount Gou, When his mind was detached from all earthly control. He flew on crane while he bid farewell to the people. His phoenix tune on flute entered the moon of crystal.   Legend says a rainstorm once sent a bamboo boat From the sea to the Starry River’s flowing ripples. Perhaps in our past life we were very close, Meant to meet today and drink till we tippled. Life is a floating leaf in sea storms unseeable. Who knows where we’ll meet after this farewell? Notes: 1.        Lingju: Chen Lingju was a friend of Su Shi; 2.        Double Seventh Festival: Chinese valentine’s day, usually celebrated in the evening on 7 July ( Lunar Calendar); 3.        Weaver: the legendary love story of the Weaver, a celestial, and the Cowherd, her human lover. They married and had two children but the happy life together was ended by Heaven. As their punishment, their life was separated by the Starry River. Only on the Double Seventh night could the family enjoy a reunion on a bridge formed for the occasion by magpie birds. 4.        Ziqiao: legend has it too that a young man named Wang Ziqiao became a celestial on Mount Gou ( Henan Province today). People saw him flying on wind while playing his flute on his famous phoenix music. Appreciation: The unique and lofty perspective on the theme of a Lover’s day makes this poem very tasty indeed. It was composed in the evening during a farewell party on Chinese Valentine’s day. While other gentlemen were indulging in the charming poems and songs on young and erotic loving relationship, Su Shi diverted their minds from the traditional theme of stereotyped earthly joy to a transcending theme of becoming free from earthly attachments controlling our pure souls -- a Daoist pursuit of ascending from the mortals’ reincarnating cycles to the celestial world in Heaven. Thus, the weever girl and her cowherd were silly and stupid in Su Shi’s understanding. The poem was his wake-up call to his fellow human mortals. The Dao applies not just to the attached relationship between lovers, but also between kins and friends. Meetings and partings are just a natural performance of karma, a playing system of reason and result. There’s no need to get sentimental about it. Just take it easy and accept what’s coming your way. Once you go through the obstacles in your route, your spirit transcends to a new level, getting closer to become a freer soul. Similar idea was implied in many of his poems, such as " How I compare the new arrivals in a life journey? " (《和子由渑池怀旧》) which is also translated here in this site. 鹊桥仙·七夕送陈令举 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 缑山仙子， 高清云渺， 不学痴牛騃女。 凤箫声断月明中， 举手谢、时人欲去。 客槎曾犯， 银河微浪， 尚带天风海雨。 相逢一醉是前缘， 风雨散、飘然何处？ Reference: m.gushiwen.cn (古诗文网）

品令 . 零落残红 原作：李清照（存疑，疑为 曾纡 词） 零落残红，恰浑似、胭脂色。 一年春事，柳飞轻絮，笋添新竹。 寂寞幽闺，坐对小园嫩绿。 登临未足，怅游子、归期促。 他年魂梦，千里犹到，城阴溪曲。 应有凌波，时为故人留目。 The Fallen Crimson Rouged the Ground of Mud -- to the tune of Pinling written by Li Qingzhao tran.+annot. by Julia Min The fallen crimson rouged the ground of mud. As in every spring, they’re born to die to dust. The willows let their catkins travelling free, and bamboo shoots will soon be new trees. Again in her boudoir she’ll be alone to see her garden taken by a world of green grief.   Ambition never fills. I know you can’t stay, and your leaving is coming close by the day. If graced in sweet dreams I’d join you again, a thousand miles away, to your city, your place, to the stream winding the wall in hidden shade, and ripple waves to your heart for a misty gaze. Appreciation: Another poem on spring grief at the end of the season, popular in sentimental poetry. Springtime is the season of life and death, a season of oxymoron. Life’s cycle has its governing rules to make new life thrive upon the old and worn.Every rebirth contains some level of death. Li Qingzhao surely understood this as a master of the minor-key sensations of romantic ripples in the heart, of melancholy, of boudoir love and regrets.  The subjects mentioned often bear symbolic meanings, serving like a pun in the context. The fallen crimson represents the passing of spring years in one’s life time, the romantic season of lovers. Willow catkins here refers to the man with official duties who have no control over his destiny. He has to travel away from home for his ambition. Bamboo shoots here suggests his promising future after some hardship in growth. A world with only green is a spring grief over the thinning and fallen crimsons, hinting the inevitable passing of her rosy days. This poem reminds me of Christina Rossetti’s poem “ Spring” --- “There’s no time like Spring that passes by, /Now newly born, and now hastening to die. ” and Philip Larkin’s (1922—1985)   “The Trees” --- “ The trees are coming into leaf / Like something almost being said; / The recent buds relax and spread, / Their greenness is a kind of grief.” Notes: 1. ‘ambition never fills’: from the Mexican proverb -- ‘Ambition never has its fill’, meaning here the pursuit of man’s ambition has no ending; the desire can’t be filled. Reference: baike.baidu.com

祭赵湖州文 原作：李清照 英译：闵晓红 白日正中，叹庞翁之机捷。坚城自堕，怜杞妇之悲深。 On the death of my husband Zhao Mingcheng, the governor of Huzhou written by: : Li Qingzhao ( 12th century) translated by： Julia Min Your life journey is just half way, like the dazzling sun at midday. Then you’re gone, leaving me alone to a world sinking astray. You’re the elite of the Song, but nothing gold can stay. I remember the daughter of Monk Pang, who ended her life before he passed away, -- a relieve from such grief faithful to a heart of pain. Appreciation: Yi'an's husband Zhao Mingcheng (1081 - 1129, epigrapher, poet, and politician) died of disease after he was appointed to be Huzhou's governor of the New Southern Song dynasty. His sudden death left his wife to a world under the siege of the Jin invaders. Reference: 1. baike.baidu.com (百度百科) 2. zh.wikipedia.org (维基百科） 3. 《李清照集笺注》李清照撰，徐培均笺注； 2002年上海古籍出版社 4. 《李清照文集》 作者：（北宋）李清照著，刘振鹏https://books.google.com.au/ 5. All pictures are selected from google search.

减字木兰花 作者：李清照 卖花担上， 买得一枝春欲放。 泪染轻匀， 犹带彤霞晓露痕。 怕郎猜道， 奴面不如花面好。 云鬓斜簪, 徒要教郎比并看 Budding Blooms - to the Tune of Jianzi Mangnolia Translated by Julia Min From a flower peddler in neighbourhood I bought budding blooms for our room. The pink tips are covered with morning dews Still twinkling with golden red hues. Her natural charm could fascinate my mate. I regret my silly choice, but too late. So pinned on my hair near my cheeks fair I wear the blossom for him to compare. Analysis Composed in her early marriage days when she was still a teenage girl, this ci poem is the only one in this music tune pattern from her collection left today. She was the happiest lady in the world living with her beloved husband who was then a carefree student at the Royal Academy in the capital city of Northern Song Dynasty. A glimpse of their daily life is manifested here, which is a treat for us to enjoy, especially the clever and witted zoom-in of a minute moment in the secret little mind of a young lady. Pinying and Word -For-Word Translation: jiǎn zì mù lán huā – the music pattern Jianzi Mangnolia; mài huā dān shàng – flower peddler loads on; mǎi dé yī zhī chūn yù fàng – bought one branch of Spring Budding； lèi rǎn qīng yún – teardrops soaked evenly； yóu dài tóng xiá xiǎo lù hén – as if with red rays morning dews traces； pà láng cāi dào – worried that my husband might think； nú miàn bú rú huā miàn hǎo – my face not as pretty as the flower; yún bìn xié zān – cloud hair sideway pin; tú yào jiāo láng bǐ bìng kàn – in vain ask husband to compare; Notes: 1. jiǎn zì mù lán huā – the music pattern for this ci poem. 2. chūn yù fang – spring flowers that are just budding, which most likely refers to plum blossoms , the first bloom in spring. 3. tú : used as an adverb here, meaning ‘in vain”. *Photo retrieved from: Google