Ballad of a Trader's Wife

Ballad of a Trader's Wife

by Li Bai

translated by Xu Yuanchong

My forehead barely covered by my hair,

Outdoors I plucked and played with flowers fair.

On hobby horse he came upon the scene;

Around the well we played with mumes still green.

We lived close neighbors on Riverside Lane,

Carefree and innocent, we children twain.

At fourteen years old I became his bride;

I often turned my bashful face aside.

Hanging my head,I'd look on the dark wall;

I would not answer his call upon call.

I was fifteen when I composed my brows;

To mix my dust with his were my dear vows.

Rather than break faith, he declared he'd die.

Who knew I'd live alone in tower high?

I was sixteen when he went far away,

Passing Three Gorges studded with rocks grey.

Where ships were wrecked when spring flood ran high,

Where gibbons' wails seemed coming from the sky.

Green moss now overgrows before our door;

His footprints, hidden, can be seen no more.

Moss can't be swept away, so thick it grows,

And leaves fall early when the west wind blows.

In yellow autumn butterflies would pass,

Two by two in west garden over the grass.

The sight would break my heart and I'm afraid,

Sitting alone, my rosy cheeks would fade.

"O when are you to leave the western land?

Do not forget to tell me beforehand!

I'll walk to meet you and would not call it far

Even to go to Long Wind Beach where you are."

长干行

[唐]李白

妾发初覆额，折花门前剧。

郎骑竹马来，绕床弄青梅。

同居长干里，两小无嫌猜。

十四为君妇，羞颜尚不开。

低头向暗壁，千唤不一回。

十五始展眉，愿同尘与灰。

常存抱柱信，岂上望夫台。

十六君远行，瞿塘滟预堆。

五月不可触，猿鸣天上哀。

门前迟行迹，一一生绿苔。

苔深不能扫，落叶秋风早。

八月蝴蝶黄，双飞西园草。

感此伤妾心，坐愁红颜老。

早晚下三巴，预将书报家。

相迎不道远，直至长风沙。