A Letter of Thanks for Precious Pearls Bestowed by One Above
By Chiang Ts’ai-P’in
(THE “PLUM-BLOSSOM” CONCUBINE OF THE EMPEROR MING HUANG)
It is long—long—since my two eyebrows were painted like cassia-leaves.
I have ended the adorning of myself. My tears soak my dress of coarse red silk.
All day I sit in the Palace of the High Gate. I do not wash; I do not comb my hair.
How can precious pearls soothe so desolate a grief.