My Sick Recovery to Early Spring
--to the tune of “A Patch of Flowers”
written by Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Dongpo')
En. trans. by Julia Min (Mar.2025)
This spring comes early to a world of snow,
Hard to see but her east wind starts to blow.
She gives subtle signs with pussy willows,
And gentle grace even on drums and bells.
Only one quilt can keep me warm in bed,
Tho’ the night feels like winter long n cold.
When the town’s still dreaming in misty air,
A new sun rises, biting the tip of the hill.
Peach and apricot boughs will sprout out there.
The juice for spring outings will boil bubbles.
There’ll be nothing for me, sick and weak.
I’ll keep the bed from running away at home.
For Appreciation:
This poem offers a unique perspective to appreciate the coming of a new spring from a 40-year-old man recovering in his sickbed. A cheerful vibe dances in the air as a new sun rises, bringing new hope for himself after enduring a long illness, and for the townspeople who embrace the traditional spirit of spring outings to the countryside after a long and cold winter. It was the year 1076 when he served as the governor of Mizhou ( in today’s Zhucheng City, Shandong Province).
The ending lines show a restrained self-pity revealed with a sense of humor. The readership can’t help but feeling sorry for a man with such romantic sentiments who had to see himself confined to his sickbed, totally out of the picture in the spring landscape. Well, at least he found solace in composing this ci-poem.
一丛花·初春病起
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(2025)
今年春浅腊侵年，
冰雪破春妍。
东风有信无人见，
露微意、柳际花边。
寒夜纵长，孤衾易暖，
钟鼓渐清圆。
朝来初日半衔山，
楼阁淡疏烟。
游人便作寻芳计，
小桃杏、应已争先。
衰病少悰，疏慵自放，
惟爱日高眠
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