[updated October 2022]
Plum Blossoms
梅
轻 盈 照 溪 水
掩 敛 下 瑶 台。
妒 雪 聊 相 比
欺 春 不 逐 来。
偶 同 佳 客 见
似 为 冻 醪 开。
若 在 秦 楼 畔
堪 为 弄 玉 媒。
Mei
Qing ying zhao xi shui
Yan lian xia yao tai.
Du xue liao xiang bi
Qi chun bu zhu lai.
Ou tong jia ke jian
Si wei dong lao kai.
Ruo zai qin lou pan
Kan wei nong yu mei.
Plum Blossoms
Slender and graceful, stream water melodies
Blossoms hidden and restrained along a jade-like terrace.
White snow jealous when compared to them
They cheat spring, not anxious for it’s arrival.
Watch these occasional beautiful visitors
They are like a frozen mellow wine emerging and opening up to a thaw.
Compared to the sides of a Qin Dynasty tower
Where the goddess played her jade flute to attract a heavenly phoenix.
Notes:
[A Qin Dynasty emperor built this tower for a heavenly deity so she can play her flute and thereby attract phoenixes from paradise.]