[updated September 2022]
Middle of a Rainstorm, Liu the Nineenth Now in the Erlin Temple, By the Time I Arrived, He Had Already Left, Good Reason to Stay and Create This Four Sound Poem
雨 中 赴 刘 十 九 二 林 之 期，及 到 寺 刘 已 先 去，因 以 四 韵 寄 之
云 中 台 殿 泥 中 路
既 阻 同 游 懒 却 还。
将 谓 独 愁 犹 对 雨
不 知 多 兴 已 寻 山。
才 应 行 到 千 峰 里
只 校 来 迟 半 日 闲。
最 惜 杜 鹃 花 烂 熳
春 风 吹 尽 不 同 攀。
Yu Zhong Fu Liu Shi Jiu Er Lin Zhi Qi, Ji Dao Si Liu Yi
Xian Qu, Yin Yi Si Yun Ji Zhi
Yun zhong tai dian ni zhong lu
Ji zu tong you lan que huan.
Jiang wei du chou you dui yu
Bu zhi duo xing yi xun shan.
Cai ying xing zhi qian feng li
Zhi xiao lai chi ban ri xian.
Zui xi du juan hua lan man
Chun feng chui jin bu tong pan.
Middle of a Rainstorm, Liu the Nineteenth Now in the Erlin Temple, By the Time I Arrived, He Had Already Left, Good Reason to Stay and Create This Four Sound Poem
From a muddy highway, clouds form a palace terrace
Already arrived here, too lazy to move on.
Better to cope with the rain than the melancholy solitude
Did not realize how many joys from seeking the mountains.
You have already traveled into the thousands of peaks
Arriving late, alone I will have a half day of leisure.
Treasure most these brightly-colored dujuan blossoms
Spring breezes blow, we were not able to share this mountain climbing.
Notes:
Dujuan blossoms: Type of azaleas that were Bai Juyi’s favorite.