李商隐: 隋宫/ li shangyin: the palace of the sui emperor

隋宫

李商隐

紫泉宫殿锁烟霞， 欲取芜城作帝家。

玉玺不缘归日角， 锦帆应是到天涯。

于今腐草无萤火， 终古垂杨有暮鸦。

地下若逢陈后主， 岂宜重问后庭花？

　

the palace of the sui emperor

li shangyin

his palace of purple spring has been taken by mist and cloud,

as he would have taken all yangzhou to be his private domain

but for the seal of imperial jade being seized by the first tang emperor,

he would have bounded with his silken sails the limits of the world.

fire-flies are gone now, have left the weathered grasses,