Separated by Imperial Summons from Her Who Lives Within
BY LI T'AI-PO
I
The Emperor commands; three times the summons. He who left has not yet returned.
To-morrow, at sunrise, he will go out by the Pass of Wu.
From the upper chamber of white jade, I shall gaze far off; but I shall be able to make out nothing.
Our thoughts will be with each other. I must ascend the Looking-for-Husband Hill.
II
As I left my door, my wife dragged my clothes with all her strength.
She asked me in how many days I should return from the West.
" When I return, supposing I wear at my girdle the yellow gold seal,
You must not imitate Su Ch'in's wife and not leave your loom. "
III
The upper chamber of kingfisher jade, the stairs of gold —
Who passes the night alone, leaning against the door and sobbing?
She sits all night by the cold lamp until the moon melts into the dawn.
Her streaming, streaming tears are exhausted — to the West of the Ch'u Barrier.
I
The Emperor commands; three times the summons. He who left has not yet returned.
To-morrow, at sunrise, he will go out by the Pass of Wu.
From the upper chamber of white jade, I shall gaze far off; but I shall be able to make out nothing.
Our thoughts will be with each other. I must ascend the Looking-for-Husband Hill.
II
As I left my door, my wife dragged my clothes with all her strength.
She asked me in how many days I should return from the West.
" When I return, supposing I wear at my girdle the yellow gold seal,
You must not imitate Su Ch'in's wife and not leave your loom. "
III
The upper chamber of kingfisher jade, the stairs of gold —
Who passes the night alone, leaning against the door and sobbing?
She sits all night by the cold lamp until the moon melts into the dawn.
Her streaming, streaming tears are exhausted — to the West of the Ch'u Barrier.
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