Lu Yu: Mirrored Lake Ladies

 

Mirrored Lake Ladies

 

镜 湖 女
湖 中 居 人 事 舟 楫
家 家 以 舟 作 生 业。
女 儿 妆 面 花 样 红
小 伞 翻 翻 乱 荷 叶。
日 暮 归 来 月 色 新
菱 歌 缥 渺 泛 烟 津。
到 家 更 约 西 邻 女
明 日 湖 桥 看 赛 神。

 

Jing Hu Nu

Hu zhong ju ren shi zhou ji
Jia jia yi zhou zuo sheng ye.
Nu er zhuang mian hua yang hong
Xiao san fan fan luan he ye.

Ri mu gui lai yue se xin
Ling ge piao miao fan yan jin.
Dao jia geng yao xi lin nu
Ming ri hu qiao kan sai shen.

 

Mirrored Lake Ladies

Mid-lake people dwell with their boats and oars
Every household uses a boat to create a business and livelihood.
Their daughters wear patterns of red flowers upon their faces
Small umbrella hats turned upside-down to collect lotus leaves.

At sunset go back to moonlight upon fresh colors
Water caltrop songs while they work in the humidity of floating mists.
Arriving home to change, women make plans for tomorrow with neighbors
An appointment to meet the deities at the lake bridge.