Deep Is The Courtyard Poem by East Sea Fairy Xing Yi

By OUYANG Xiu

Deep is the courtyard.
How deep is it? Who knows?
Looking into the distance is so hard
for numerous a lush and lavish poplar and willow
grows
abundant view-blocking blinds of foliage
At the merry-making place, many a beaus
park his luxurious carriage.
Hence, even from upstairs she can't see the avenue to Zhangtai1 through the blockage.

Spring is almost gone.
A wild wind with a down-pouring rain
comes upon.
The twilight scene can my triple gates constrain
but spring in vain.
With dew-lit eyes, I manage,
oh, I manage to ask the fallen flowers again and again
if they can read my mind. However, silently the skimble-scamble flowage
fly away beyond the swing, and petal after petal out of my cottage.
Note：1. Zhangtai: a sporting house, brothel.