When leaves fell in decay, you left the western bay,
But you have not come back now lotus blossoms sway.
My dream oft lingers on the stream or by the fountain,
But you are said to be far away in the mountain.
Original Poem:
「江南行」
张潮
茨菰叶烂别西湾，莲子花开犹未还。
妾梦不离江上水，人传郎在凤凰山。
Interpretation:
This poem is written in the tone of a merchant's wife, expressing the woman's longing for her husband who has been away for a long time.
In the first two lines, we parted in Xiban when the leaves of the water hyacinth rotted, and now the lotus blossoms are in bloom, but I don't see you returning yet.
Last year, Izumo leaves rotted when we sent off in the West Bay, and now the lotus is in full bloom, but the person who is looking forward to it has not yet returned home. This is the first to recall the time and place of separation, and then from there to the present do not see people return. It is simple, but the poet depicts it with feelings and scenes, and lovesickness.
The last two lines: my dream can not be separated from the flowing water on the river, people say that you have reached the Phoenix Mountain.
Surprising news came, and the poem ended abruptly. As to whether she is happy or sad, joyful or sorrowful after this news, the poet does not say a word and leaves it to the reader to experience. First of all, the arrival of this news shows that she does not know that the person has gone, empty dreams follow, how many dreams in the past turned out to be an empty. The pain that is hard to tell and the hidden resentment are all in the unspoken words.
The language of the poem is simple and natural, the strokes are delicate, the writing is bright and subtle, the words are shallow but the feelings are deep, and the essence of the folk song is deeply felt.
Poem translator:
Xu Yuan-chong(许渊冲)
About the poet:
Zhang Chao (张潮) was a Tang Dynasty poet, a native of Danyang County, Jiangsu Province. Most of his poems are about the emotions of a merchant woman, and it is not difficult to find the influence of southern folk songs in both the content and form of these poems.
