“Drunk in the Fairyland” by Huang Tingjian [w/ Audio]

In the face of heavy morning cloud again
And drizzling evening rain,
Leaning on each other, rugged the hills remain.

The Gorge of Witch and lofty peaks
Lock in the Southern Palace rosy cheeks.

In spring the halberds move in force,
Maids in fair dress welcome heroes on horse,
To the riverside town they go only.

I come to the wasteland a thousand miles away,
With my shadow so lonely.

How can I become cheerful and gay?

It is said the Southern land is so high,
It nearly scrapes the sky.
To the capital I stretch my eye,
I see but misty water far and nigh.

When I drank in the hall,
My friends were talents all.

Songstresses sang with rosy face
And dancers danced with grace,
Drunk, they intoxicated the place.

Hearing the cuckoo's home-going song
All the night long,
Could I resist my yearning strong?

Translation: Xu Yuanchong [translator]. 2021. Deep, Deep the Courtyard. [庭院深深.] Cite Publishing: Kuala Lumpur, pp. 191-192.