Love
The Palace Woman of Han Tan Becomes the Wife of the Soldiers' Cook
Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell (1921) · From Fir-Flower Tablets (1921)
Once the Unworthy One was a maiden of the Ts'ung Terrace.
Joyfully lifting my moth-pencilled eyebrows, I entered the carnation-coloured Palace.
Relying on myself, my flower-like face,
How should I know that it would wither and fade?
Banished below the jade steps,
Gone as the early morning clouds are gone,
Whenever I think of Han Tan City
I dream of the Autumn moon from the middle of the Palace.
I cannot see the Prince, my Lord.
Desolate, my longing--until daylight comes.
Cite this poem
MLA
Po, Li. “The Palace Woman of Han Tan Becomes the Wife of the Soldiers' Cook.” Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/li-po/80/.
Chicago
Po, Li. “The Palace Woman of Han Tan Becomes the Wife of the Soldiers' Cook.” Translated by Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/li-po/80/.
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