English中文
Shaking the Autumn Court: A Thousand Li Since We Parted
别来音信千里，
恨此情难寄。
碧纱秋月，
梧桐夜雨，
几回无寐。
Since we parted, news must travel a thousand li; I hate that this love cannot be sent. Through the azure gauze the autumn moon, upon the paulownia the rain of night — how many nights without sleep.
楼高目断，
天遥云黯，
只堪憔悴。
念兰堂红烛，
心长焰短，
向人垂泪。
High in the tower my eyesight is spent; the sky remote, the clouds darkened, and nothing left but to grow haggard. I think of the red candle in the orchid hall: the wick long, the flame short, shedding tears before me.
Reading notes
恨此情难寄 also appears as 怅此情难寄; this page retains 恨. The long wick and wax tears of the candle carry the closing image of longing.