碧城
(三首其一)
碧城[1]十二曲阑干,
犀辟尘埃[2]玉辟寒。
阆苑[3]有书多附鹤[4],
女床无树不栖鸾。
星沉海底当窗见,
雨过河源隔座看。
若是晓珠明又定,
一生长对水晶盘。
《碧城》(三首)是李商隐诗最难懂的篇章之一,历来众说纷纭。三首诗都用第一首诗开头的“碧城”二字为题,实际上也是无题诗。本篇为三首的第一首,采用象征、暗示、双关、用典等表现方法,乍一读去,似觉恍惚迷离,难明所指。然而只要反复体味,仍能曲径通幽,捕捉到诗的旨趣。
注释:
[1]碧城:道教传为元始天尊之所居,后引申指仙人、道隐、女冠居处。
[2]犀辟尘埃:指女冠华贵高雅,头上插着犀角簪,一尘不染。
[3]阆苑:神仙居处。此借指道观。
[4]附鹤:道教传仙道以鹤传书,称鹤信。
Green Rainbow Cloud
(I)
Twelve balustrades wind in the town of rainbow cloud,
Where rhino and jade keep dust and cold air away.
The crane would send the fairy’s love to phoenix proud,
There is no tree by the wall where lovebirds stay.
Stars seen before the window sink deep into the night.
And bring showers for thirsting flowers by the stream.
If the pearl of the morning should be ever bright,
How could the fairy face the crystal moon in dream?
Note:This is a poem about the love of fairies who live above the rainbow clouds and for whom the crane will bring love letter to the phoenix.The stars bringing showers for thirsting flowers allude to the love-making of the fairies.