Rain at the Cold-food Festival
寒食雨二首
I
Since I came to Huangzhou, I’ve passed
Three Cold-food days devot’d to fast.
Each year I wish fair spring to stay,
But spring will go without delay.
一
自我来黄州， 已过三寒食， 年年欲惜春， 春去不容惜。
This year again we suffer from rains,
For two months dreary autumn reigns.
Lying in bed, I smell crab-apple flowers,
Upon whose rouge and snow mud showers.
今年又苦雨， 两月秋萧瑟， 卧闻海棠花， 泥污燕脂雪。
The rouge has taken stealthy flight,
Borne away by the Strong at midnight.
The snow is like a sick youth’s head
Turning white when he’s up from his bed,
暗中偷负去， 夜半真有力。 何殊病少年， 病起头巳白。
II
Spring flood is coming up to my gate,
My small cot looks like a fishing boat.
The pouring rain will not abate,
My cot on misty waves will float.
二
春江欲入户， 雨势来不已， 小屋如渔舟，濛濛水云里。
I cook food in a kitchen in decay
And burn wet reeds in a cracked stove.
Who can tell ’tis the Cold-food day
But for the money-paper burned above?
空庖煮寒菜， 破灶烧湿華。 那知是寒食? 但见乌衔纸。
The royal palace has gate on gate;
My household graves far away lie.
At the road’s end I’d lament my fate,
But dead ashes blown up cannot fly.
君门深九重， 坟墓在万里。 也拟哭途穷， 死灰吹不起!