...A Sprig of Plum: Lost in Mist and Rain
Once I invited the bright moon to drink in a lofty tower
A beauty in rouge kept me company over wine
Drunk, I struck the golden bowl
Staggering with the wind, I sang of late autumn
The sky stretched on and on
My heart drifted on and on
Jests and dream-murmurs were tender despite themselves
In the wine cup, the reflection of her coiffure
In dreams, a magnolia boat
On this cold night, where could a pure soul linger?
Within Chrysanthemum Lane
In a bamboo tower veiled in mist and rain
...Guan Pingchao...
For the events behind this poem, see Volume Three, Chapter Twenty, "The Maiden's Dwelling Has No Man."
Also, another verse that appeared in this chapter was not my own original work, but I have included it here for your enjoyment:
"Ten thousand chrysanthemums-ah, the autumn wind was cold; I climbed the tower to behold the splendor-ah, the water streamed with light. A beauty sang-ah, her melody rose, remote and clear; cold fragrance whirled-ah, phoenixes and cranes wheeled in flight. Lightly, gracefully aloft-ah, roaming the celestial realm; gazing up and down upon the vast earth-ah, the moon was white, the mist dusky blue; one breath of utter purity-ah, a thousand years stretched into the boundless distance!..."
This was written by an anonymous Daoist of the previous dynasty; I changed only twelve characters and rearranged the word order in one place.
Hehe, one more thing: in Volume Three, Chapter Seventeen of the VIP chapters, I quoted a passage of lyrics from Yue opera-the lyrics fit that scene of mine so perfectly that I changed just one character when quoting them. I am posting them here as well for your enjoyment:
Graceful upon the waves, untouched by dust
Slender and poised,