Three Poems to My Wife
- Poetry of Qin Jia

【其一】

人生譬朝露，居世多屯蹇。

忧艰常早至，欢会常苦晚。

念当奉时役，去尔日遥远。

遣车迎子还，空往复空返。

省书情凄怆，临食不能饭。

独坐空房中，谁与相劝勉。

长夜不能眠，伏枕独辗转。

忧来如循环，匪席不可卷。

【其二】

皇灵无私亲，为善荷天禄。

伤我与尔身，少小罹茕独。

既得结大义，欢乐苦不足。

念当远离别，思念叙款曲。

河广无舟梁，道近隔丘陆。

临路怀惆怅，中驾正踯躅。

浮云起高山，悲风激深谷。

良马不回鞍，轻车不转毂。

针药可屡进，愁思难为数。

贞士笃终始，恩义不可属。

【其三】

肃肃仆夫征，锵锵扬和铃。

清晨当引迈，束带待鸡鸣。

顾看空室中，仿佛想姿形。

一别怀万恨，起坐为不宁。

何用叙我心，遗思致款诚。

宝钗好耀首，明镜可鉴形。

芳香去垢秽，素琴有清声。

诗人感木瓜，乃欲答瑶琼。

愧彼赠我厚，惭此往物轻。

虽知未足报，贵用叙我情。

Ⅰ

Man's life is like the morning dew,

Filled with many hardships,too.

Distress and care will never wait 

While joy and ease oft come too late.

Business at the end of the year

Estranges me from you,my dear.

I send a cart to welcome thee,

But you cannot come back to me.

Your tender letter makes me think 

And I neglect my food and drink.

I sit alone my time to bide;

With whom can I my thought confide?

Deprived of sleep all through the night,

I toss and turn until daylight.

Distress that hits me wave on wave 

Is not a mat stored in a grave!

Ⅱ

The god on high is just and fair;

It favours good deeds everywhere.

It is a pity you and I

Are never happy though we try.

Since we became man and wife,

We've not enjoyed enough of life.

As I shall very soon depart,

I wish we chatter heart to heart!

The river's wide with no boat nor bridge;

The way is near but lies a ridge.

I'm sad before I'm on the way;

The horses pause and stop and neigh.

The clouds are drifting o'er the hill;

The wind is moaning in the gill.

My steeds will by no means return;

My wheels,howe'er,refuse to turn.

Take your balms on time,my dear,

For care and grief won't bring me near.

I'm bound to love you all my life;

Mere words will not suffice,dear wife.

Ⅲ

The men prepare the cart with care,

With crisp bells tinkling in the air.

As I shall set out at daylight,

I'm fully dressed for all the night.

When I look at the empty room,

O'er me your figure seems to loom.

About to leave,I feel distressed,

Hard to put my mind at rest.

How can I bare my heart to you?

My words and gifts will give the clue.

The precious pin emits its light;

In the mirror you'll look bright.

The perfume sweet will clear the air;

The lute plays tunes beyond compare.

A poet received a quince from the lass 

And gave her jade of topmost class.

Compared with your kind heart to me,

I have but slight requite to thee.

Although I know my gifts are few,

They show my heartfelt love for you.