The Works of Li Qingzhao, Ci Poems 3.33 - 3.40

[x_los]

The fifth instalment of Li Qingzhao’s ci poetry. This book is freely available via De Gruyter's Library of Chinese Humanities in Mandarin and English and via several publication formats, including two open access options (the pdf appears to be better formatted than the ebook). We're reading the poems 3.33 through 3.40, inclusive.
 

How to Read Chinese Poetry has three chapters on the ci forms Li Qingzhao uses here:

 

Chapter 12, Ci Poetry: Short Song Lyrics (Xiaoling) 

Chapter 13, Ci Poetry: Long Song Lyrics (Manci) 

Chapter 14, Ci Poetry: Long Song Lyrics on Objects (Yongwu Ci)

This week, we look at Chapter 14 as recommended additional reading. 

Recall from the introduction that everything after 3.35 is relatively likely to be misattributed.

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Comments

3.37

[x_los]


怨王孫

夢斷漏悄。
愁濃酒惱。
寶枕生寒
翠屏向曉。 門外誰掃殘紅。 夜來風。
玉簫聲斷人何處。
春又去
忍把歸期負。
此情此恨此際
擬托行雲。
問東君。

To the tune “Resenting the Prince”

My dream interrupted, the water-clock is quiet. Sadness is heavy, the wine annoying now.
From the precious pillow springs a chill.
The blue-green screen shows approaching dawn.
Who will sweep up the faded red blossoms outside my door blown down by tonight’s wind?
The jade flute melody has ended—where has the player gone?
Spring too is departing,
how can I have betrayed its return? This mood, this regret: at this moment, I should use the fleeting clouds
to ask the Lord of the East.

Re: 3.37

[x_los]

“precious pillow” I’ve seen this used a few times, why precious?

“how can I have betrayed its return?” By not feeling/caring about it enough?

“I should use the fleeting clouds to ask the Lord of the East.” About what?

Re: 3.37

[ann712]

Precious pillows - akin to lovely bed perhaps?