Xin Qiji: New Year's Eve

Xin Qiji: New Year's Eve
By Poet Mr. Xin Qiji of Song
Translated by Laijon Liu 20090316

East wind blows,
Thousand fireworks bloom,
Their falling sparks raining in starry sky.

Decorated horses, carved wagons,
And fragrance spread along the road.
Phoenix flutes echoing,
Jade pots spinning their light,
Paper fish and dragons dancing all night long.

Thin moth brows,
Snowy willow shapes,
All dressed in golden silk.
Their perfume goes with their laughter.

And in the numerous crowds
I’ve tried to find her for hundreds times
And suddenly I look back
She is there,
Faraway, beyond the lamplights.

Note:
This Southern Song poet (辛棄疾, Xīn Qìjí) (1140 - 1207) was after Su Shi of Northern Song poet. He wrote many poems about nation and patriotic content, due to his whole life was caught in the invasion period of North Empire of Jin. And Southern Song depended on his experience and ability to lead army to protect the empire, yet the emperor didn’t trust him, so he was promoted when the crisis flaming wildly, and demoted when the boarder traffics slowed down. It is difficult to work for someone who don’t trust us. And such heroes are only made when the nation is in crisis, if he lives in a peaceful time, I doubt he may get a green card from the immigration department of Jin Empire.

This poem, from its surface reads like a love poem, someone lingers in a dream, faraway, beyond the lamplights. But poet can also use woman for metaphor of his goal, a dream never accomplished. Even many Chinese would read this as it is a love poem. But there is another meaning beneath it. Poets in Song Dynasty lived like rock stars.


Chinese:
青玉案, 元夕
辛弃疾

东风夜放花千树，更吹落、星如雨。

宝马雕车香满路，凤箫声动，玉壶光转，一夜鱼龙舞。

蛾儿雪柳黄金缕，笑语盈盈暗香去。

众里寻她千百度，蓦然回首，那人却在，灯火阑珊处。