Flower Shadow
Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Zizhan', art name 'Dongpo')
English translation & annotation: Julia Min (Aug. 2024)
Shadow came in tiers on the blooming terrace.
I had servants sweep them away but in vain.
Thank goodness the setting sun took them off.
Yet, they are sent back by the moon again.
Appreciation:
Imagine Dongpo in a tipsy mood after drinking a few bowls of wine with friends in a gracious garden in its fullest bloom. The place was showered in shimmering golden light except for the shadow which was getting bigger and longer as the sun was setting, as if attempting to overrule the flowers it relied on for existence. The greater value of this short poem is the implied message under the simple lines. It was written in 1076, shortly after Wang Anshi became the Prime Minister again to carry on with his New Law which had brought disaster to the people when it was first enacted. As a leader of the conservative party, Su Shi sighed: Not again!
花影
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)
重重叠叠上瑶台，
几度呼童扫不开。
刚被太阳收拾去，
又教明月送将来。（‘又教’有版本作‘却教’）
Reference:
picture from dongya.com
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