Boudoir Thoughts
- Poetry of Xu Gan

【其一】

沉阴结愁忧，愁忧为谁兴。

念与君生别，各在天一方。

良会未有期，中心摧且伤。

不聊忧湌食，慊慊常饥空。

端坐而无为，髣髴君容光。

【其二】

峩峩高山首，悠悠万里道。

君去日已远，郁结令人老。

人生一世间，忽若暮春草。

时不可再得，何为自愁恼。

每诵昔鸿恩，贱躯焉足保。

【其三】

浮云何洋洋，愿因通我辞。

飘飖不可寄，徙倚徒相思。

人离皆复会，君独无返期。

自君之出矣，明镜暗不治。

思君如流水，何有穷已时。

【其四】

惨惨时节尽，兰华凋复零。

喟然长叹息，君期慰我情。

展转不能寐，长夜何绵绵。

蹑履起出户，仰观三星连。

自恨志不遂，泣涕如涌泉。

【其五】

思君见巾栉，以益我劳勤。

安得鸿鸾羽，觏此心中人。

诚心亮不遂，掻首立悁悁。

何言一不见，复会无因缘。

故如比目鱼，今隔如参辰。

【其六】

人靡不有初，想君能终之。

别来历年岁，旧恩何可期。

重新而忘故，君子所尤讥。

寄身虽在远，岂忘君须臾。

既厚不为薄，想君时见思。

The hanging clouds enhance my woe and grief;

From whom can I attain entire relief?

You are gone and here at home I stay;

We're kept indeed ten thousand miles away.

As there's no date when we shall meet again,

My heart is filled with pangs of woe and pain.

In hunger just to reunite with you,

I'm at a loss and know not what to do.

Erect I sit all day in selfsame place,

As if we talked together face to face.

Up and up I look to mountain peaks;

On and on I look to roads and creeks.

Day by day,it's farther you will go,

Day by day,it's older I will grow.

Human beings live a short lifespan,

Which fades like grass as soon as it begins.

Since time and tide goes with each passing day,

Why on earth should I meet trouble halfway?

Whenever thought of you comes to my mind,

I'm willing to leave myself far,far behind.

The cloud above is drifting easy and free;

I'd like the cloud to carry words for me.

Here it floats today,there tomorrow 

But I'm left alone with all my sorrow.

While other people have their time so sweet,

There is no date for you and me to meet.

Since you set out from home all by yourself,

My mirror has been put upon the shelf.

Like the river water that flows to the east,

My thought of you will never have decreased!

When the season dies away and flees,

The orchid blossoms wither on the trees.

I heave long sighs of deep concern,

Seeking solace in the hope of your return.

I toss and turn in sorrow on my bed,

And watch the never-ending night ahead.

I put on shoes and start to walk close by,

Gazing at the stars that dot the sky.

When I'm haunted by those shattered dreams,

My tears begin to fall in flowing streams.

When I look at your old towel and comb,

I feel the more tormented here at home.

Oh that I have the wings of those wild geese 

And come upon my husband in the breeze.

This dream will ne'er come true,as well I know,

I stand there with a fevered heart of woe.

Why is it that once you leave your wife,

There is no hope to meet again in life?

Like a pair of fish we used to stay,

But now we're cut off by the Milky Way. 

None treats his wife badly at the first;

I hope that you will not end at the worst.

Since you left home,years and years are passed;

Will your former love forever last?

If you forget your old love for the new,

You'll be denounced by the just and true.

Although you're miles and miles away from me,

I've never for a day forgotten thee.

Since our love won't fade out on your part,

I'm sure you'll always keep me in your heart.