Tentative Translation of Maggie Wu’s Selected Poems
原作：吴沁
新作（一）
轻舟短棹游湖好，绿水逶迤。荷叶长堤。无风水面琉璃滑，不觉船移。微动涟漪。旧时皇家奢华地，宫墙虚敞。夕阳落壁。龙楼凤阁随火去，万园之园。重跃锦鳞。
Light boat and short oars a lake tour befit,
Green waterway meandering.
The long causeway covered by lotus leaves.
Windless water surface as smooth as tiles glazed,
The boat drifts unperceived.
Yet ripples on the water surface appear.
Formerly a royal deluxe palace
With walls open unnoticed.
On them falls the lingering light of the setting sun.
Gone are the dragon and phoenix pavilions as the brilliant past.
The best of all gardens is ever extant.
But colorful fish leap for joy again!
新作（二）
素肌应怯露风寒，群花谢，瘦枝摇曳艳阳天。京都石黛扫晴山，旧林园，朝云漠漠青丝散。冬至日，偷入书帏，闲伫立，笔墨香韵犹在纸。倩谁寄语春早，来年早到梅梢，衣润费炉烟。
译文：
Born weak I shun the bitter cold.
Flowers are withering,
While branches are blown off in the sunshine.
Black pigment on eyebrows I visit a sunny hill in the old capital.
In the old orchards
My dark hair goes shriveled in the morning clouds.
When Winter Solstice comes
Stealthily into a library
I keep silent as ever.
Sweet ink flavor and rhymes remain fresh on the paper.
Who’d send me early spring messages?
My garment is wet and the plum-tree is blackened in smoky skies.
新作（三）
城外屋，寒风露，今人品读禅六祖。燎沉香，熏泥炉，深入传灯法本处。松竹相依，共过芳时，重慕想，画船载取春归去，余情付于冰上舞。
A cottage out of town,
Exposed to cold dews,
Modern man peruses Buddhist scriptures.
Burning the incense,
Blackening the oven,
Striking the law deep home,
Pine and bamboo are clung closely together.
Sweet pastime we do enjoy!
Dreaming a fond dream,
A barge carries off the spring,
My emotion goes to the Dance on the Ice.
（一）
早春来迟花开晚，细雨沥沥锁清寒。
祭罢遥思念故人，莫辞盏酒十分劝。
(I)
Flowers blossom late as spring comes late,
Drizzling rain clear and cold locks the place;
Thinking afar of good old friends after sacrifice-offering
Why turn down more toasts from the banquet host?
（二）
玉兰初绽，桃梨争艳，依依嫩柳拂人面。
风起卷清寒，红茶暖入眠。
(II)
Magnolias budding forth,
Peaches and pairs vie for luxuriance,
The tender branches of the willow tree so caressing.
Clear and cold brings a spring breeze.
Asleep I fall after a cup of hot black tea.
（三）
朝飞暮卷，云霞翠轩，雨丝风片，烟波画船。炷尽沉烟，人立小庭深院。
(III)
Morn and dusk clouds fleeting by
A green-covered study amidst clouds so rosily pink!
Fine rain and light wind,
A gaily-painted pleasure boat in mist-covered rolling waters!
Smokes gone,
Travelers in a deep compound!
（四）
细雨丝，清明日。把盏低言相见欢。树梢绿如烟，含苞白玉兰。盼得花满春晖，自在熏香扑面。
(IV)
Drizzling rain,
The Pure Brightness Day,
Wining with friends in low voice,
How happily we again meet!
Tree-tops so green and luxuriant,
Buds of white magnolias ready to burst,
When in spring sunshine flowers all bloom,
In fragrance we shall all be overwhelmed.
（五）
古刹曲径，漫山娇颜。松涛阵阵，丁香初探。困春心，游赏倦，也不索香熏绣被眠。
(V)
An ancient temple in a winding path,
What a scenic mountain we do face!
A sea of pines rages high,
Lilacs bud forth.
Sleepy springtime,
Scenery appreciators too tired
To seek sweet-smell embroidered quilt.
（六）
闲步寻芳惜浓春，朵朵花开淡墨痕。细听琵琶一曲新，且看胜会逐游人。
(VI)
In a stroll I seek after flowers on a flourishing spring day.
In front of the blossoms my painting brush pales
Appreciating a new melody of Chinese pipa
I find it feasting my ear as if in a flower paradise.
（七）
湖山畔，雕栏外，彩鲤丰腴，烟波画船。
一阵香风，送到林园。
湿地边，奇石参错，野鸭嬉戏，争惹人羡。
及时的，去游春，莫迟慢。
怕罡风，吹得了花零乱。
辜负了好春光，徒唤枉然。
(VII)
Beside a lake against the hills,
Outside sculptured balustrades,
Colorful carps abound.
We are in a barge on mist-covered rolling waves.
A gust of fragrant wind blows into the orchard.
Wetting the land
Queer stones scattered here and there.
Wild ducks play about to people’s amusement.
Make timely spring tours without delay.
Fearing strong winds could wither all flowers away.
We would do injustice to springtime.
What’s the use crying o’er spilt milk by then?
（八）
《高尔夫》
树绕球场，水满坡塘。
倚东风，豪兴徜徉。
绿绒球道，占尽春光，朵朵野花遍地香。
远远村庄，隐隐屋堂。
果岭上，小旗飘扬。
步过沙坑，挥杆时，清脆声落，小球飞前方。
(VIII)
Golf
Trees around the court
Slope pond full of water
Caressed by eastern wind,
We players beam with great joy.
Green velvet golf lanes
Springtime to the fullest we enjoy
All wild flowers puff out fragrance.
Far looms a village where
Large cottage halls are vaguely visible.
On the putting green
Small banners keep flying.
Step over the bunker
Swing the driving iron
So crispy it resounds.
What a distance the ball flies on and on!
（九）
乱花飞絮里，缓步香茵。遍绿野，嬉游醉眠，莫负青春。
(IX)
Befallen flowers fly in a disorderly way.
I stroll in flower-born fragrance.
All over the green field
I play around and get intoxicated.
Never let my youth idle away.
（十）
柳荫直。烟里丝丝弄碧。湖堤上，曾见几番，拂水飘绵送行色。登临象山望芳园，千年紫藤串串，沁香紫槐迷人眼。谁识，京华倦客？朝阳金辉春无极。
(X)
Shades of willows so straight
Foggy greenish threads going through
On the lake dam waving the water and flying willow catkins
Don’t you often see maiden sentiments when seeing off her sweetheart?
Climbing the Elephant Hill she wants to make a bird’s eye view of her sweet hometown.
A millennium of purple vines in clusters
What fragrance from purple Chinese scholarly trees!
How fascinating they look?
Anyone who knows
The traveler tired out is from the capital?
Boundless is the splendor of spring morning sunshine.
（十一）
骤雨蒙蒙，狼藉残红，垂柳阑干尽日风，始觉春空。双燕归来密雨中。
(XI)
A sudden rain is drizzling down,
The setting sun is enshrouded like blood,
All day long the wind sweeps over the weeping willows and railings.
I begin to feel the spring days rather void,
The pair of swallows flies back in dense rain.
（十二）
薄烟细雨罩轻盈，飞絮游丝无定。
笙歌散后梦初醒，深院月斜人静。
(XII)
Enshrouded in light smog and fine rain
Flying catkins are blown in from nowhere.
After a singing party awakened from a dream,
Calm am I lying deep in a court under the slanting moonlight.
（十三）
轻舟短棹游湖好，绿水逶迤。芳草长堤。无风水面琉璃滑，不觉船移。微动涟漪。
(XIII)
Nice to row a light boat in a lake with a short oar!
Green water meanders merrily.
A long causeway is covered with green grass.
The windless water surface is flat as if glazed.
The boat seems motionless.
Ripples appear gently.
（十四）
素月分辉，明河共影，表里俱澄澈。悠然心会，妙处自与君说。细斟北斗，泛沧溟空阔，万象皆为实客。
(XIV)
The pale moon sheds its light.
I share my shadow with the moon-lit river.
My heart is purified from inside out.
Easy going and well understood.
How nice to tell you my secrets!
Fine tea under the Great Dipper
Talk freely in the great immensity.
All things are so practical in my face.
（十五）
曲曲屏山，盼夜凉，暑热消情绪，思难眠。
幽诗漫兴，写入琴丝，笑篱落呼灯，世间儿女。
蟋蟀自吟，凄凄更闻私语。
(XV)
Screened by winding hills,
I’ve longed for a cool night.
Summer heat is upsetting.
It causes you to go sleepless.
Glad to write a poem in seclusion.
And compose a melody out of it.
Men and women in the secular world
Laugh at the closing fence.
Listen, the crickets are moaning
How sad their private whispers!
（十六）
青花把玩，书画共赏，都是曾听伊处。今何许？凭栏怀古。嫩荷参差舞。
(XVI)
Blue flower antiques,
Appreciating Chinese calligraphy and paintings
All have haunted the site.
What are you up to here today?
Being so nostalgic by the balustrade!
Young lotus flowers dance in a merry way.
（十七）
那年别后，芳容渐淡。约于午后相见欢。
伊人风姿未改，何需花黄？
低台水畔，鱼儿自清凉。
美食裹腹，无心再续笙歌梦，掩重门，浅醉闲眠。
莫开帘，怕袭热浪，怕灼烈阳。
(XVII)
Since I saw her last time,
Her face has been fading away.
A happy rendezvous this afternoon
She is as charming as ever.
Why ornamented with flowers?
At a low terrace by the waterside,
The fish feel cool and refreshing
Best food is served to satiate hunger.
NO more dream of singing and singing.
Close the door behind you, and
Go asleep after getting slightly drunk.
Don’t draw the curtain open
I fear the heat wave,
I fear the sun scorching.
（十八）
遥记当年，骄阳似火夏日游。繁花飘满头。陌上谁家公子足风流。应邀将步陪与午时休。小院绿荫对举箸，笑含羞。
I remember a year far back,
I was making a summer trip under the blazing sun.
Flowers rained on my head!
Who was the young gentleman so elegant on the farmland?
On his invitation we had a walk until noon break.
Together we raised our chopsticks in a green-shaded courtyard.
We smiled and felt shy.
（十九）
不见南师久，漫说北群空。
当场双手，毕竟还我万夫雄。
自笑堂堂汉使，得似洋洋河水，依旧只流东。
且腹穹炉拜，会当高街逢。
(XIX)
It’s a long time since I met my teacher from the south;
We had a free chat on the northern tales.
My pair of hands at once and after all
Has returned me my spirit heroine!
I mock at myself why as a distinguished Chinese envoy,
Only to resemble an expanse of water
Flowing eastward as ever?
With a vault of belly and incense burner
We were sure to meet again on a high- profile occasion.
（二十）
今日恰似，旧时光景岸上走。海波伴渔舟。闺中何许伊人已出游！可怜遥望予以此心酬。缓解倦意座高楼，月当头。
(XX)
The scene of today is just like
Walking on a dike as of old!
Sea waves washing fishing vessels.
Why allowed the young maid to go sailing out?
How pitiful to reward her only with this broken heart!
I am seated in a high tower to get relieved,
The bright moon shines directly above.
（二十一）
新来雁阔云音，江城次第，笙歌翠合。料黛眉重锁隋堤，芳心还动梁苑。酒酣耳热说文章。惊倒邻墙，推倒胡床。旁观拍手笑疏狂。疏又何妨？狂又何妨？
(XXI)
With wild geese coming anew clouds resound
In a mansion in a city by the river
A singing party goes on in the green.
Girls with painted eyelashes all locked up
Their heart strings touching the garden of love.
They composed articles when warmed with wine.
Down fell the wall of a neighbor frightened out,
A string- knit folding stool pushed down.
Clapping hands and laughing at the wild joy
So what if getting wild,
So what if overjoyed!
（二十二）
立秋日，草原行。满眼翠色，向日葵挺立。密雨落，迷蒙景。凉意袭难敌。穿多仑，飞驰正蓝旗。
(XXII)
The first autumn day
A prairie journey
The eye is feasted with all green
Sunflowers standing straight
A dense rain falls,
And blinds the scene around.
The cold air is unbearable to me.
Wearing more,
I sweep across the blue banner.
（二十三）
荷花深处层楼，竹帘半卷西风软。恋芳菲世界，游人尽赏，逐笑开颜。又是晴空如火日，子规声断。
(XXIII)
Deep in a tower the lotus flowers blossom.
Half rolled up the bamboo curtain as the west wind softens.
How appealing the world of flowers!
All travelers were enjoying and appreciating,
They send forth peals upon peals of laughter.
Also a sunny hot day,
The cuckoos sing no more.
（二十四）
《中国酒》
不许忧伤不许愁，交杯万盏尽风流。
狂欢合唱云中锦，带醉联吟月下钩。
雄论篇篇披大略，高谈句句展良筹。
猜拳打码添豪兴，江上波平好荡舟。
(XXIV)
Chinese Toast
Neither worries nor melancholy
Ten thousand toasts to our hearts’ content
Taste the best food and sing in chorus with wild joy
Make poems half- drunken under a moon new.
Best poems always deal with strategic plans,
Good verses all resound with good schemes.
Playing mahjong and finger-guessing games to add fun
How nice to go boating in the smooth river waters!
（二十五）
湛湛长空，月淡云闲。看浩荡，千崖秋色。都忘却，春风词笔。嫣然摇动，冷香飞上诗句。竹外疏花，只恐舞衣寒易落，更洒菰蒲雨。鸿北去，日西匿。
(XXV)
In the blue vast skies,
The moon is pale and the clouds at ease.
Gazing at the great immensity
Autumn reigns over all the cliffs.
Why forgot to
Pen a ci poem in the spring breeze?
Branches waver.
Cold fragrance steals over the verses.
Outside the bamboos are flowers scattered.
They can easily fall in the cold.
An autumn downpour is brewing
The wild geese fly north
The sun sets west.
（二十六）
晚荷满汀洲，不怕逢花瘦。待繁红乱处，重过南楼。金钗斗草，罗绶分香，能几日、又中秋？欲买桂花同载酒，终不是、少年游。
(XXVI)
Lotus flowers bloom all over Dengzhou
Fear not to be withered away.
They bide time to flourish once again,
And again pass the tower in the south.
The golden hairpins outwit the grass
The colored silk ribbon sends forth its pleasant smell.
How many days more?
Again the Moon Festival!
I want to buy some osmanthus flowers to brew wine with,
After all this is not
Our maiden trip.
（二十七）
莎衫筠笠，绿水千畦。芳径，芹泥雨润急。红楼归晚，看足柳昏花暝。应自栖香正稳。便忘了，天涯芳信。飘然快拂花梢，翠尾分开藻井，又软语商量不定。麦欲黄时饁耕夫，来寻陌上花钿。
(XXVII)
Straw coat and bamboo hat,
Green water and farm plots
Aromatic paths
Muddy rainfall moistens quick
Returning late to the Red Chambers
I’ve seen enough of withered willows and flowers.
Dwelling in a place well sweet-scented
I’ve forgotten
Fragrance from far away.
Sweeping across flower tips so freely.
The fading green separates the caisson ceiling.
No consensus found in soft wording.
When wheat plants turn yellow to feed the grower,
We are here for ornaments worn on women’s head.
（二十八）
湖上烟淡，棹移人远，缥缈行周如叶。翠尊双饮，玲珑闲看月。嫣然摇动，冷香沁透，留我花间住。怎忍凌波去？
(XXVIII)
The mist is thin on the lake.
My man gets off as the boat rows away.
It is dimly discernible like a tree-leaf.
We drink together in the green bamboos
And enjoy the nimble moon idly.
Branches swing happily.
Cold fragrance comes over penetrating me,
Keeping me with the flowers.
How can I bear to quit the rolling waves?
（二十九）
芳莲坠粉，疏桐吹绿，庭院夜雨乍歇。筱墙萤暗，琵琶谁弹？
(XXIX)
Powder drops from aromatic lilies.
The thinning out phoenix tree is quitting green
The night rain in the courtyard suddenly halts.
The wall is gloomy,
Who is playing the pipa melody?
（三十）
日月盈昃，辰宿列张，人间儿女成狂。梦里梦外试新妆，却是人间天上。不觉新凉似水，阅尽银河风浪。禁苑娇寒，湖堤倦暖，香尘暗陌，空相对，残红无寐，何处染秋霜？
(XXX)
The sun and the moon wax and wane.
The morning stars expand
Men and women in the secular world go mad,
Testing their new attire in dreams and awakened,
No matter in heaven or on earth.
It is getting cool like water imperceptibly.
We have seen all the waves in the Milky Way.
The forbidden gardens are frail and cold.
The causeway on the lake is no longer warm.
Face powder no longer used and roadside hidden.
Sitting opposite to one another,
Sleepless in the setting sun,
Where and when did she get grey-haired?
（三十一）
渐仲秋新痕，淡彩穿菊，依约破初暝。便有团圆意，深深拜，相逢谁在香径？千古盈亏休问，何人重赋清景？看云外江河，故山夜水，桂花影。
(XXXI)
New traces of middle autumn days appear.
Light colors turn yellow like chrysanthemums.
Dating is a breakthrough in evening twilight.
There and then I wish to get reunion.
Bowing deeply
Who am I to meet on the scented path?
Never ask gain or loss in the nether world,
Who will make an ode to the desolate?
Gaze at the rivers beyond,
Old mountains and night waters,
Reflecting the osmanthus flower shadows.
（三十二）
秋雨一何碧，山色倚晴空。梦里偶摇桂树，人间唤作凉风，芦叶蓬舟千重。阑杆高处，年年红叶，墨淡尘土，水涵空。
(XXXII)
How luxuriant after the autumn rain!
The mountain scene against the sunny sky
Shaking dreamily an osmanthus tree
I bring a gust of cool wind to the human world.
A thousand reed leaves and weed-covered boats
The railings high up
Red leaves every year,
Light ink in the dust.
The water tunnel is empty.
（三十三）
西窗过雨，似瑶佩流空，琵琶调柱。帘透秋凉，悄移暗叶，消得斜阳几度？漫想熏风，蟹肥凝露。
(XXXIII)
It rains outside the western window.
Just like fleeting by like jades.
The pipa melody tune is set.
Autumn cold penetrates the window curtain.
It sends the hidden leaves flying.
Scarcely any more slanting sunrays from now？
I imagine when a warm southern wind blows.
Fat crabs will appear abundantly.
（三十四）
烟络横林，山沉远照，共惹清风秋露。卧听南窗雨，天涯节序匆匆，榴花不似舞裙红。歌罢满帘寒入松，枫叶深浅去年同。
(XXXIV)
A rich forest is enveloped in mist.
The sullen mountain is afar illuminated.
Inviting a cold breeze and autumn dews.
Hearing a rain from the southern window,
I find seasons slip by in great haste.
Promenades not so red as the dance skirt,
After singing a cold wind blows the pines behind the curtain
Maple leaves are as brightly red as ever in the year last.