We joked, long ago, about one of us dying,
But suddenly, before my eyes, you are gone.
Almost all your clothes have been given away;
Your needlework is sealed, I dare not look at it...
I continue your bounty to our men and our maids --
Sometimes, in a dream, I bring you gifts.
...This is a sorrow that all mankind must know --
But not as those know it who have been poor together.
Original Poem:
「遣悲怀 · 其二」
元稹
昔日戏言身后事， 今朝都到眼前来。
衣裳已施行看尽， 针线犹存未忍开。
尚想旧情怜婢仆， 也曾因梦送钱财。
诚知此恨人人有， 贫贱夫妻百事哀。
Interpretation:
Yuan Zhen's first wife, Wei, married him at the age of twenty, and they had a very good relationship after marriage, but unfortunately Wei died seven years later, and the poet was extremely sad. This group of poems was written about a year after Wei's death, and this is the second one, which is mainly about the poet's nostalgia and sadness after his wife's death.
The first four lines: In the past, I used to joke about the arrangement behind us, but now it is all unfolding in front of me as you said. The clothes you have worn have been almost finished, your needle and thread box I can't bear to open.
In the past, a couple of casual joking words, do not want to today but really come true, actually become a mourning sentiment, and thus the more true feeling of grief. My beloved wife passed away, but the relics are still there. When I see the objects, I miss my wife, and I feel so much pain. In order to avoid seeing things and thinking of people, slightly reduce the feelings of grief, will be his wife's life through the clothing charity out; and his wife's life did the needlework but the original preservation of the original, can not bear to open.
The last four lines: Because I miss you, I have been very compassionate to the servant girl, and I have also dreamed of you and sent money for you. I know that everyone in the world has the hatred of parting, but the death of a husband and wife who have suffered together is even more painful.
Whenever I see my wife's servant girl, I can't help but think of her, so I feel a kind of pity for her. Daytime is still so touching sentiment, the night is the dream soul fly over the dream to find each other, and even in the dream to send money to the deceased wife, seems absurd and hard to believe, in fact, touching to the depths. The last two lines of the words straight from the heart, for the same poverty and hardship but failed to share the wealth of the couple, once the eternal farewell is even more sad.
This poem is also the same as the previous one, like talking about family life, but in the plainness of the work, the poet's nostalgia for his wife's deep-rooted feelings are reproduced in the best possible way.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet:
Yuan Zhen (元稹), 779-831 A.D., was a native of Luoyang, Henan Province, who was poor in his early years, but later became an official and finally died of a violent illness. He was friendly with Bai Juyi and often sang with him, and was known as “Yuan Bai”.
