Jiggered-Will Under The Phoenix Tree In Fall Poem by East Sea Fairy Xing Yi

By LI Yu Translated by East Sea Fairy

The last days of the golden time of year
witness fallen leaves all over the ground beside the richly carved will grand
with a jigger under the Chinese phoenix tree drear
Many a tree of this kind has started to change since autumn returns to itself on the land.
Looking at the autumnal hue which she can't stand,
she feels that her heart is filled with wretchedness and woe.
with the long hanging curtain in hand,
she finds new woes pile on her old sorrow,
when she looks at the drizzle muzzling outside the window.

Standing all alone by the richly decorated window,
the lonesome lovesick lady in her room
frowns with a new-born sorrow.
Thinking of her unachievable desire, she becomes heavy with gloom
for her green years are running to the tomb.
Looking in the direction of the remote northern land from where no news of her beau
she's heard of long, she can only be on the boring watch in her bedroom.
Intending to mail him a letter beyond the Yellow river though,
she finds that it could never go across the freezing flow.