Love
A Letter of Thanks for Precious Pearls Bestowed by One Above
Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell (1921) · From Fir-Flower Tablets (1921)
It is long--long--since my two eyebrows were painted like cassia-leaves.
I have ended the adorning of myself. My tears soak my dress of coarse red silk.
All day I sit in the Palace of the High Gate. I do not wash; I do not comb my hair.
How can precious pearls soothe so desolate a grief.
Codex Note
In the book: the "Plum-Blossom" concubine of the Emperor Ming Huang.
Cite this poem
MLA
Ts’ai-p’in, Chiang. “A Letter of Thanks for Precious Pearls Bestowed by One Above.” Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/chiang-tsai-pin/0/.
Chicago
Ts’ai-p’in, Chiang. “A Letter of Thanks for Precious Pearls Bestowed by One Above.” Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/chiang-tsai-pin/0/.