butterflies love flowers 蝶恋花

 

 

 

醉花陰ー重陽　

薄霧濃雲愁永晝，瑞腦消金獸。
佳節又重陽，玉枕紗櫥，半夜涼初透。

東籬把酒黃昏後，有暗香盈袖。
莫道不消魂，簾卷西風，人比黃花瘦

Drinking Wine in the Shawdow of the Flowers-- the Chrysanthemum Festival

Wispy mist and thick clouds
The afternoon stretches on, endlessly in sadness
Sweet incense rises from a golden brazier
On this auspicious festival day—Chongyang.
As evening fall, the chills slips in
Through silken curtains to my little jade pillow

Sipping wine that evening—there by the eastern fence
The fragrance of the chrysanthemums filling up my sleeves, secretely, quietly
How can I not be distraught?
The autumn wind fills the curtains
I have grown thinner than the chrysanthemums.

 

 

Li Qingzhao--longing for her husband who was faraway on business, spent the day in bed-- drinking wine and composing poems, in the shadow of the flowers by the eastern fence (採菊東籬下).

Sending him the poem, it is said that when he read it, so impressed was he that he vowed to not leave his room until he had composed a poem back of equal perfection. Refusing all food and all visitors for three days, he composed poem after poem. Later, he would incorporate her words with words of his own in a poem that a friend would remark about, "there are only three good lines in this one" (and those three good lines were, of course, the ones he had borrowed from his wife's masterpiece!)

She was the greatest poetess in Chinese history. And like all great poets, she sought to refine her emotions in elegant and edifying metaphors about nature. Lady Li loved flowers and by situating her emotions in seasonal images, personal emotions were therby refined and made universal. But at the same time, she saw things in the flowers themselves that were admirable and worthy of emulation; for not only are flowers beautiful and joyous but they also symbolize strength and nobility of character-- attributes that we can all learn from. Or, in the words of my ikebana teacher, when a flower blooms, it either blooms in its fullest capacity and with all its might, or it’s a dud.

No half measures for flowers.  --with Ting-Jen

Interesting article on emotion, nature and japanese Buddhism--here. Photo and video by the Great Ninagawa Mika

TED Talks-Gratitude and Flowers too

**

Be like a flower,  from Sri Aurobindo's The Spiritual Significance of Flowers

Be like a flower. One must try to become like a flower: open, frank, equal, generous and kind. Do you know what it means?
A flower is open to all that surrounds it: Nature, light, the rays of the sun, the wind, etc. It exerts a spontaneous influence on all that is around it. It radiates a joy and a beauty.
It is frank: it hides nothing of its beauty, and lets it flow frankly out of itself. What is within, what is in its depths, it lets it come out so that everyone can see it.
It is equal: it has no preference. Everyone can enjoy its beauty and its perfume, without rivalry. It is equal and the same for everybody. There is no difference, or anything whatsoever.
Then generous: without reserve or restriction, how it gives the mysterious beauty and the very own perfume of Nature. It sacrifices itself entirely for our pleasure, even its life it sacrifices to express this beauty and the secret of the things
gathered within itself.
And then, kind: it has such a tenderness, it is so sweet, so close to us, so loving. Its presence fills us with joy. It is always cheerful and happy.
Happy is he who can exchange his qualities with the real qualities of the flowers. Try to cultivate in yourself their refined qualities

  

Comments

[Samuel Peralta / Semaphore]

Again! Again you re-kindle my love for the Chinese classics. I don't think I ever told you, but Arthur Waley's books were a strong infuence on my early poetry, but re-visiting the source, through the eyes of other translators, is like coming home.

Your rendition of Li Qingzhao's 'Wu Ling Spring' was a revelation to me (and didn't I say in your Note that I would file it away because I knew one day I would return to it?)... and this rendition of her chrysanthemum poem is likewise inspirational. So wonderful to read, thank you.

[peony]

Thanks so much, Sam! If you attempt this one too--please let me know, I'd love to see what you do with it and the two Lady Li poems make a nice pair!!

**

武陵春 【宋】李清照

住尘香花已尽， 日晚倦梳头。
物是人非事事休，欲语泪先流。
闻说双溪春尚好，也拟泛轻舟。
只恐双溪舴艋舟，载不动许多愁。

To the Tune of Wuling Spring –Li Qingzhao

The wind has died down
And the scent of scattered flowers fills the dusty air
Though day is here
I am too weary to do my hair

While I still have his objects, he is gone
And all is lost
I long to speak
But these tears won’t stop

They say Shuangxi in spring is lovely
And I would sail there in a dainty boat
But alas I fear
The boat could not hold my sadness

[Samuel Peralta / Semaphore]

This one will simmer a bit, but I'll definitely let you know. As I read through her poems, though, I notice so much pining and absence. So sad.

I've just tackled one by Fujiwara no Teika, a tanka, but I had to do an inordinate amount of research for so few lines. This one:

こぬ人を
まつほの浦の
夕なぎに
焼くやもしほの
身もこがれつつ

My version at Semaphore.