Palace Verse
English translation and interpretation are being reviewed.
望仙楼上望君王。
锁衔金兽连环冷，
水滴铜龙昼漏长。
云髻罢梳还对镜，
罗衣欲换更添香。
遥窥正殿帘开处，
袍袴宫人扫御床。
English translation
In the twelve towers all are making their morning toilet, from the Watching-for-Immortals Tower they watch for their lord.
The bolt grips a golden beast, the linked rings are cold, water drips from the bronze dragon, the day-clepsydra is long.
Her cloud-bun finished, still she turns to the mirror, about to change her silken robe, she adds more perfume.
Gazing from afar where the blind of the main hall is drawn, a palace woman in gown and trousers sweeps the imperial bed.
Meaning
At first dawn the palace ladies dress and adorn themselves in the Twelve Towers; they climb the Terrace for Gazing on Immortals and long for the sovereign who may favour them. The beast-shaped door rings lock the palace gates fast, and their hearts are filled with wretchedness; the bronze dragon water-clock drips slower and slower, and sitting in waiting the day seems all the longer. When their hair is dressed they must study it again and again before the mirror; they change into another silk robe and take care to add more perfume. From afar they see figures stir in the main hall and the pearl screen drawn back; they see the maids in short jackets and embroidered trousers sweeping the imperial bed.
Background
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This poem was written roughly during the Huichang era (841–846) of Emperor Wuzong of Tang. The author passed the jinshi examination and, with the help of the chief minister Cui Xuan, was soon transferred from a provincial post to the capital, and thereafter rose steadily. During this period he came into contact with people of the palace and so learned something of life within it; this poem was written against that background.