A Reverie in a Summer-house
By Meng Hao-Ran
T’ang Dynasty (a.d. 618-905)
The daylight fades behind the Western Mountains,
And in the east is seen the rising moon,
Which faintly mirrored in the garden fountains
Foretells that night and dreams are coming soon.
With window open—hair unloosed and flowing,25
I lie in restful ease upon my bed;
The evening breeze across the lilies blowing
With fragrant coolness falls upon my head.
And in the solemn stillness—all-prevailing,
The fall of dewdrops from the tall bamboos—
Which grow in graceful rows along the railing—
Sounds through the silence soft as dove’s faint coos.
On such an eve as this I would be singing,
And playing plaintive tunes upon the lute,
And thus to mind old friends and pleasures bringing;
But none are here to join with harp and flute!
So in a pleasant stillness I lie dreaming
Of bygone days and trusty friends of old,
Among whom Sin-tze’s26 happy face is beaming;
I would my thoughts could now to him be told.
Notes
25 In ancient times the hair was worn long and knotted on the top of the head.
26 The name of a genial companion of earlier days.