Li Bai (701-December 762), whose name was Taibai, was named Qinglianjushi, also known as “The Immortal”. A great romantic poet in the Tang Dynasty, he was hailed as “The Immortal of Poetry” by future generations, and he was called “The Immortal of Poetry” together with Du Fu.

 

春思

燕[1]草如碧丝,

秦[2]桑低绿枝。

当君[3]怀归日,

是妾[4]断肠时。

春风不相识,

何事入罗帏[5]?

《春思》是李白描写妻子思念丈夫的一首小诗。仲春时节,桑叶繁茂,独处秦地的妻子见景生情,终日盼望驻扎在北方边境的丈夫早日归来,料想他看到碧丝般的春草,也会萌生对妻子的怀念。燕北地寒,春草生迟。当秦地柔桑低绿枝时,燕草方生,丈夫刚萌怀归之意,妻子思夫已经很久了。忽然春风吹开罗帐,妻子喜出望外以为丈夫回来,不料欢喜成空,于是转喜为悲,反而责怪春风不该闯入房中。这种想象中的责备之词,活画出了妻子思念丈夫的深情。

注释:

[1]燕:今河北省北部一带,此处泛指北疆地区,征夫所在之处。

[2]秦:今陕西省一带,此指思妇所在之地。

[3]君:指征夫。

[4]妾:古代妇女自称。这里是思妇自指。

[5]罗帏:丝织的帷帐。

A Faithful Wife Longing for Her Husband in Spring

Your Northern grass must be like green silk thread;

Our Western mulberries have bent their head.

When your thoughts begin to turn homeward way,

My heart has long been breaking night and day.

To the intruding vernal wind I say:

“How dare you part the curtain of my bed!”