Joy at Meeting: Wordless, I Climb the West Tower Alone

Li Yu · Five Dynasties

无wú言yán独dú上shàng西xī楼lóu，

月yuè如rú钩gōu。

寂jì寞mò梧wú桐tóng深shēn院yuàn锁suǒ清qīng秋qiū。

Wordless, I climb the west tower alone; the moon is like a hook. The lonely paulownia tree locks the deep courtyard in clear autumn.

剪jiǎn不bù断duàn，

理lǐ还hái乱luàn，

是shì离lí愁chóu。

别bié是shì一yī般bān滋zī味wèi在zài心xīn头tóu。

Cut it, it will not break; comb it, it is tangled still — this is the sorrow of parting. It is a feeling quite its own within the heart.

Reading notes

一般 also appears as 一番; this page retains 一般. 还 in 理还乱 is read hái, meaning “still.”