Chinese Female Poets: English Translations V

CHINESE FEMALE POETS: ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS Sung to the tune of “I Paint My Lips Red” by an anonymous courtesan or Li Ch’ing-Chao loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch After swinging and kicking lasciviously, I get off to rouge my palms. Like dew on a delicate flower, perspiration soaks my thin dress. A new guest enters and my stockings flop, my hairpins fall out. Pretending embarrassment, I flee, then lean flirtatiously against the door, sucking a green plum. Spring Night, to the tune of “Panning Gold” by Chu Shu-Chen loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch My jade body remains as lovely as that long-ago evening when, for the first time, you turned me away from the lamplight to unfasten the belt of my embroidered skirt. Now our sheets and pillows have grown cold and that evening’s incense has faded. Beyond the shuttered courtyard even Spring seems silent, forlorn. Flowers wilt with the rain these long evenings. Agony enters my dreams, making me all the more helpless and hopeless. The Day Nears by Huang O loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The day nears when I will once again share the sheets and pillows I have stored away. When once more I will shyly allow you to undress me, then gently expose my sealed jewel. How can I ever describe the ten thousand beautiful, sensual ways you always fill me? Sung to the tune of “Soaring Clouds” by Huang O loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch You held my lotus blossom between your lips and nibbled the pistil. One piece of magic rhinoceros horn and we were up all night. All night the c-ck’s magnificent crest stood erect. All night the bee fumbled with the flower’s stamens. O, my delicate perfumed jewel! Only my lord may possess my sacred lotus pond, for only he can make my flower blossom with fire. Sung to the tune of “Red Embroidered Shoes” by Huang O loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch If you don’t know what you’re doing, why pretend? Perhaps you can fool foolish girls, but not Ecstasy itself! I hoped you’d play with the lotus blossom beneath my green kimono, like a eunuch with a courtesan, but it turns out all you can do is fumble and mumble. You made me slick wet, but no matter how “hard” you try, nothing results. So give up, find someone else to leave unsatisfied. Keywords/Tags: Chinese Female Poets, English Translations, woman, women, wife, wives, girl, girls, flower, flowers, lotus, jewel, sensual, for her