妝台秋思 - Autumn Thoughts By the Dresser

  
This is inspired by the flute solo of this piece of music. Music starts at 1:48.

1金風花落庭後空 Drifting blossoms in the golden wind and emptiness in yonder of the courtyard,
2玉露竹滴鑒中夢 Jade dew dripping from bamboo leaves but a dream in the bronze mirror.
3豈無春思妝台瞥 How can one’s memories of springtime not evoke upon the dresser peered?
4楓林唯看四周紅 Just look Into the maple forest where red is all over.

5雪絲雲配又一見 Snowy strands accessorize the clouds of my head once more revealed,
6銀柳塵許再莫逢 Silver willowy danglers betrothed to dust, no longer met.
7日月流光歲催年 The flowing light of the sun and moon urges the onward crippling years,
8昨夜今刻何相同 Last night and of this moment – how can they be the same?

1.Golden Wind – Autumn

2.Jade Dew – dew formed during the cold autumn nights. Bamboos are evergreen.

3.Bygone youth.

4.Red is synonymous with youth but in this case -- dying maple leaves.

5.Grey strands of grey as opposed to 青絲 women’s silky black hair. 雲 here is short for 雲鬢 voluminous front temple hair coiffured like clouds.

6. Silver hair ornament that sways like the willow in the breeze with the movements of the wearer to catch the eye of the opposite sex. Crudely put, a bait dangler. Inspired from the line “蛾兒雪柳黄金鏤”

7. Flowing light – passage of time.

8. Last night – denoting the past that went by so swiftly. This lament could have been imagined what the future beholds. To western readers, it may be construed that the poem’s character is of vanity. However, in the imperial harem, it could mean leading a life of solitude as youth is robbed by time. Vying for imperial favors is a life and death enterprise for these women.

Monday, July 13, 2020