Yang Wanli: Low-Burning Candle During a Gentle Snowfall

 

Low-Burning Candle During a Gentle Snowfall, Sounds of Snapping Plum Trees

烛 下 和 雪 折 梅
梅 兄 冲 雪 来 相 见
雪 片 满 须 仍 满 面。
一 生 梅 瘦 今 却 肥
是 雪 是 梅 浑 不 辨。
唤 来 灯 下 细 看 渠
不 知 真 个 有 雪 无。
只 见 玉 颜 流 汗 珠
汗 珠 满 面 滴 到 须。

 

Zhu Xia He Xue She Mei

Mei xiong chong xue lai xiang jian
Xue pian man xu reng man mian.
Yi sheng mei shou jin que fei
Shie xue shi mei hun bu bian.

Huan lai deng xia xi kan qu
Bu zhi zhen ge you xue wu.
Zhi jian yu yan liu han zhu
Han zhu man mian di dao xu.

 

Low-Burning Candle During a Gentle Snowfall, Sounds of Snapping Plum Trees

My cold and wet visitors arrive to wash and water the plum trees
Remaining snowflakes fill in all of the depressed surfaces.
Throughout their lives these trees have been thin, now they appear more filled-out and healthy
The snow and the plum trees debate who is the most simple and natural.

Under the lantern, I call out to them to see which is the most thin and delicate
Not really know if it is the trees holding snow or not.
Only see my jade-colored beads of sweat
They fill up my face, then drip down over a cold beard.