English Original
Why did you vanish
into empty sky?
Even the fragile snow,
when it falls,
falls in this world.
The Ink Dark Moon, 1990
Izumi Shikibu
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
你為何消失
在空曠的天空?
就連弱不禁風的雪花,
當它飄落時,
也落在這世間.
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
你为何消失
在空旷的天空?
就连弱不禁风的雪花,
当它飘落时,
也落在这世间.
Bio Sketch
A renowned poet and diarist from the 10th-11th century, Izumi Shikibu married twice and was the lover of both Prince Tametaka and Prince Atsumichi, Tametaka’s brother. Her poems and correspondence, part of a tradition of court love poetry, frequently combine erotic and romantic longing with Buddhist contemplation.
The contrast between the longing in Ls 1&2 and the grounded, almost resigned ending in Ls 3-5 creates a subtle tension, thematic and emotional.
ReplyDeleteAnd the shift from the abstract "empty sky" to the "tangible snow" also deepens the emotional impact.