十一月中旬至扶风[1]界见梅花

匝路亭亭艳,

非时裛裛[2]香。

素娥惟与月,

青女不饶霜。

赠远虚盈手,

伤离适断肠。

为谁成早秀[3],

不待作年芳[4]。

首联写梅花提前绽放,繁艳清香;颔联写嫦娥助以清辉,青女不减霜威,更使梅花显得凄清;颈联写满手的梅花不知赠予谁,离别的哀愁令人断肠;尾联写梅花未及报春,提前香艳,为谁早早地绽开呢?此诗以梅花自喻,慨叹自己虚成早秀、孤凄不遇的悲哀。

注释:

[1]扶风:即今陕西省宝鸡市扶风县。

[2]裛裛:气味郁盛的样子。

[3]早秀:早开的梅花。

[4]作年芳:为迎接新年而开花芬芳。

Mume Blossoms by the Roadside

Fair by the roadside I see you,

Fragrant before the season due.

The moon will not have her light lost;

The fairy will bite you with frost.

You’ll be given to parting friends

With broken heart without an end.

Why should you so early appear

Before the blossom-coming year?

Note:Neither the moon nor the fairy love the mume blossoms blooming by the roadside in winter.