One Thought, a Mortal Life · Stubborn and Foolish by Nature · 54 / 102
· Nothing to Be Done
In a rush the swaying green stirs up the dust, and suddenly I recall a song tapped out on red sandalwood. Wandering alone beneath the moon, I see a goldfish leap, teasing the rippled light to warmth.
From this day the resolve in these jade bones carries on; quiet and sparing of words, I once found someone who truly knew me. The silver worm curls in the lamp, the pine gate has long been shut, and the props up thoughts of parting.
Glosses—
Swaying green: flowering branches in motion;
Red sandalwood: the name of an instrument, clappers made of sandalwood;
迤逗 [yǐ dòu]: to tease, to entice;
Curls on itself: of a thing, to wind around itself;
Silver worm: the snuff-flower of a lamp;
The rotted axe handle: the handle of the axe has decayed — a figure for a great span of time.
*This piece is an original work. If you repost it, please credit the original author Shixi Lin; any infringement, once discovered, will be pursued for legal liability. In addition, the accompanying illustration comes from the internet and belongs to its original artist, Hehewu.