TUNE: SONG OF THE WASHERWOMAN

Li Yu

Southern Tang Dynasty

Deep garden still,

Small courtyard void.

The intermittent beetles chill

And intermittent breezes trill.

What can I do with sleep destroyed

But count the sound, in endless night,

Brought through the lattice window by moonlight?

捣练子

[南唐]李煜

深院静,小庭空, 断续寒砧断续风。

无奈夜长人不寐, 数声和月到帘栊。

About the poet 

Li Yu was the last emperor of the Southern Tang state during the Five Dynasties (907-960) period. He was known as the king of artists due to his calligraphy and painting talent and has been called the first true master of the classic Chinese lyric poetry known as ci.

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