李商隐: 锦瑟/ li shangyin: the inlaid harp

锦瑟

李商隐

锦瑟无端五十弦， 一弦一柱思华年。

庄生晓梦迷蝴蝶， 望帝春心托杜鹃。

沧海月明珠有泪， 蓝田日暖玉生烟。

此情可待成追忆， 只是当时已惘然。

　

the inlaid harp

li shangyin

i wonder why my inlaid harp has fifty strings,

each with its flower-like fret an interval of youth.

...the sage chuangzi is day-dreaming, bewitched by butterflies,

the spring-heart of emperor wang is crying in a cuckoo,

mermen weep their pearly tears down a moon-green sea,