WRITTEN ON A RAINY NIGHT TO MY WIFE IN THE NORTH

Li Shangyin

Tang Dynasty (about 813-858)

You ask me when I can return, but I don't know;

It rains in western hills and autumn pool o'erflow.

When can we trim by window side the candlelight

And talk about the western hills in rainy night?

夜雨寄北

[唐]李商隐

君问归期未有期,巴山夜雨涨秋池。

何当共剪西窗烛？却话巴山夜雨时。

About the poet 

Li Shangyin was one of the few poets who pursued fine beauty in poetry. His poems are like novels in style that sometimes read like long dialogues to readers. He also wrote several love poems that were passionate yet melancholy.

About the translator 

Xu Yuanchong (1921-2021) was born in Nanchang in East China's Jiangxi Province. He was a professor of literary translation at Peking University.

About the book 

300 Tang Poems Translated by Xu Yuanchong Published by China Intercontinental Press