Another Li Bai Translation

長干行

妾髮初覆額, 折花門前劇; 郎騎竹馬來, 繞床弄青梅.
同居長干里, 兩人無縑猜:
十四為君婦, 羞顏未嘗開; 低頭向暗壁, 千喚不一回.　
十五始展眉, 願同塵與灰; 常存抱柱信, 豈上望夫臺.　
十六君遠行, 瞿塘灩澦堆; 五月不可觸, 猿聲天上哀.　
門前舊行跡, 一一生綠苔; 苔深不能掃, 落葉秋風早.　
八月蝴蝶來, 雙飛西園草; 感此傷妾心, 坐愁紅顏老.　
早晚下三巴, 預將書報家; 相迎不道遠, 直至長風沙.

*Literal Translation*

Letter from a Wife - Li Bai

When my hair first touched my forehead,
I snapped some flowers to play in front of the door;
You were riding on a bambo stick, playing horse
And whirled around the green plums to game with me.
We both lived in the same village,
Our childhood innocent, without suspicion;
When I was fourteen I became your wife,
I was shy and unopen.
I only lowered my head to the wall,
And though you called a thousand times, I did not once reply;
By fifteen I opened my brows,
And was willing to live with you as dust and ash.
I held on to you with a forceful grip,
So whywould I stand by the Waiting Rock?
When I was sixteen you had to travel far,
To a grand canyon with violent waters;
In May the waters were untouchable,
The roaring sound of the monkeys moaned to the heavens.
In front of the door are your late footprints,
All of them now grow moss;
The moss is deep and cannot be swept,
The falling leaves indicate early autumn.
In August the butterflies are yellow,
In pairs fly towards the western fields;
I am saddened by this scenery,
And this sadness has aged my former bloom.
If in the morning or in the evening you are nearing home,
Write me beforehand;
I would not welcome you far from our home,
But at least at Chang-Feng-Sa.

*My Translation*

When my bangs first kiss'd my virgin brows,
I played at the gate with snapp'd flowers;
You came, my knight, riding your stick,
And shower'd me with jaded plums.
We dwelled before the same old hills,
Both innocent, without suspicions:
At fourteen I became your wife,
But, being shy, I hid my colours;
My lowered gaze was fix'd on the wall,
I turned not from a thousand calls.
At fifteen you had touch'd my brows,
Our souls had fused like ash and dust;
My e'eryday joy was fix'd on you,
Need I be a second Dido?
At sixteen, duty summon'd you
To journey by the foaming river;
How the untouchable May waters
Echoed the wild moans of the monkeys!

Before the gates are your late footsteps,
All of them now covered with moss,
No simple sweep can clear them now.
O! Autumn brings the showering leaves
And a pair of golden butterflies,
Weaving their way to the Western fields;
I, saddened by this scenery,
Can feel my colours slowly fading.
If you shall return by night or day,
Please let me know...
I shall not wait far from our home,
But on the old hills near our dwelling.