Li Qingzhao: Sorrow

Li Qingzhao: Sorrow
By Poet Ms. Li Qingzhao of Song Dynasty
Translated by Laijon Liu

I search and seek; I search and seek
But it’s just cold and chill; it’s just cold and chill
Misery, grief, and sadness
In this changing season, between warm and cold
Is the most difficult time to sleep

With a few cup of tasteless wine
How could I overcome the gushing wind of eve?
The wild geese have already flown past
But my heart is still longing
And mourning for my past friend

Golden petals shattered, mantled the garden ground
Thin, withered and lost
And now, who would care to pick them up?

Alone, I sit by the window
How shall I get by for the night?
The parasol tree stands in thin rain
Till evening, droplet by droplet
Such scene, is just a word 'Sorrow'
But does it describe all?!

Note:
One of the most famous and best Chinese woman poet, Li Qingzhao(1084–1151).
She wrote this poem for her husband (Zhao Mincheng) who died some years ago.

Wild goose is a symbol of messenger in Chinese poetry, that keeps promise, in spring he flies to North and in autumn he flies to South, but people cannot live and fly like wild goose, so poets in history often admire the liberty, ability and promise of wild goose. She also uses two image, shattered petals and parasol tree in thin rain for metaphor of her state.

Her husband, Zhao Mingcheng, before married her, had a dream, that he would marry to a great woman poet, and he begged his father to find the great woman poet according to the sign he saw in his dream. So his father went to his colleague, another court official, also his friend, by the name of Li Gefei, a friend and student of Su Shi. And at that time, most officials recognized that Li Gefei had a most talented daughter, who wrote some great verses, even better than a lot famous poets, and she, Li Qingzhao already famous by the age of 18! Li Qingzhao also heard that Zhao Mingcheng was a good poet and calligraphy artist, so the marriage happily arranged. And she wrote some daring love poems for her husband, and they spent their 10 years happy marriage for collecting and categorizing historical calligraphy record and document, sadly, Zhao died. After that, she mostly lived alone, she was married another guy, a trader, but her second marriage was short, only lasted for 100 days, and she divorced the guy.
What a hero huh? In Song Dynasty, but she lived a 20th century life, set a great example for latter woman poets.

I have a dream that I marry her! Yeah, I wish:-)


Chinese:
声声慢
李清照
　 　　
寻寻觅觅，
冷冷清清，
凄凄惨惨戚戚。
乍暖还寒时候，
最难将息。

三杯两盏淡酒，
怎敌他、晚来风急？
雁过也，
正伤心，
却是旧时相识。
　　
满地黄花堆积，
憔悴损，
如今有谁堪摘？

守著窗儿，
独自怎生得黑？
梧桐更兼细雨，
到黄昏、点点滴滴。
这次第，怎一个愁字了得？