Nala Xingde: If Life Were Only Just Like When We Two Met The First Time 納蘭性德 人生若只如初見 何事秋風悲畫扇 Poem by Frank Yue

A translation of a very famous and popular Qing ci (long and short verse)

《木蘭花令 · 擬古決絕詞》清 · 納蘭性德

人生若只如初見，
何事秋風悲畫扇？
等閒變卻故人心，
卻道故人心易變。

驪山語罷清宵半，
淚雨零鈴終不怨。
何如薄倖錦衣郎，
比翼連枝當日願！

TUNE: Mù Lán Huā Lìng 'Lily Magnolia Ci'
TITLE: Nǐ Gǔ Jué Jué Cí 'Imitating an Old Final Farewell Song'
- by Nàlán Xìngdé（1655～1685）
- Translated by Frank C Yue

If life were only just like when we two met the first time,
For the forsaken, painted fan Autumn wind would not sigh!
The average one somehow became the heart of an old friend;
But it is easy to change - the heart of the old friend then.

After sweet whispers at Li Shan Palace, dawn was breaking;
No regrets - though carriage bells tinkling, like rain tears falling.
Now, Who's that forgetful, ungrateful man in fine clothes dress't?
Our vow was to grow old in a linked-branch, to fly abreast!