念奴娇·春情

A deserted courtyard, and once more a slanting wind and fine rain: the double gates must be closed. The petted willows and pampered flowers — Cold Food draws near; every manner of heart-troubling weather. A hard-rhymed poem finished, the heady wine worn off, and still the taste of idleness is another thing. The migrating geese have all passed over; ten thousand thoughts within me cannot be sent.

Upstairs, several days of spring chill; the blinds hang down on all four sides, and I lean listless on the jade railing. The quilt is cold, the incense spent, a new dream broken — and yet grief will not let me lie abed. Pure dew flows at dawn, new leaves open on the paulownia: how much longing for the spring outing! The sun rides high and the mist draws in — let me see whether today will clear.