In the “Jade Terrace” Style #9, Quan Deyu
Thursday, 15 September 2022 07:42![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lnhammerThe autumn winds come for one night—
Their gusts deplete rear-courtyard flowers.
I can’t endure this time apart:
My western neighbors—they’re the Songs.
玉台体 之九
秋风一夜至，
吹尽后庭花。
莫作经时别，
西邻是宋家。
Yes, another “lonely lady” poem—the rear courtyard being that of the women’s quarters of a large household. That said, I don’t follow what’s the point of her neighbors—is she tempted to find consolation with a young master Song? (This would echo the next poem in a dramatically neat but emotionally messy way.) IDK. If so, then reading this as third-person POV might help bring this out: “She can’t endure this time apart: / Her western neighbors—they’re the Songs.” 🤷🏼♂️
---L.
Their gusts deplete rear-courtyard flowers.
I can’t endure this time apart:
My western neighbors—they’re the Songs.
玉台体 之九
秋风一夜至，
吹尽后庭花。
莫作经时别，
西邻是宋家。
Yes, another “lonely lady” poem—the rear courtyard being that of the women’s quarters of a large household. That said, I don’t follow what’s the point of her neighbors—is she tempted to find consolation with a young master Song? (This would echo the next poem in a dramatically neat but emotionally messy way.) IDK. If so, then reading this as third-person POV might help bring this out: “She can’t endure this time apart: / Her western neighbors—they’re the Songs.” 🤷🏼♂️
---L.
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Date: 15 September 2022 17:19 (UTC)In all seriousness, I would look for a political metaphor hiding in there, but do not know enough about the matters...
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Date: 15 September 2022 17:43 (UTC)That's possible, but it'd be the first whiff of politics I've seen in any "Jade Terrace" poem or imitation. Avoiding politics was kinda the point of the Palace Style. And if it is there, I've no idea how to find it -- the scant commentaries I've located are silent on this one.
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Date: 15 September 2022 18:02 (UTC)no subject
Date: 15 September 2022 18:21 (UTC)no subject
Date: 15 September 2022 18:42 (UTC)Chu kingdom minister's Song Yu's "Rhapsody on the lustful Deng Tuzi" has a story that fits. He was a beautiful man (one of the Four Male Beauties of ancient China, and calling someone a Song Yu is the male equivalent of calling a woman a Helen or a Komachi) and was accused by rival Deng of being lustful, and he defended himself by pointing out that the most beautiful woman in the kingdom was his neighbor to the east, and despite her eying him for three years, he hadn't succumbed to her. (He then played the Uno Reverse card by pointing out that Deng had an unattractive wife yet had many children. Gee thanks, Problematic Patriarchy.) References to a beautiful woman eastern neighbor or Song family western neighbor refer to this.
New draft last line: "Her western neighbor—he’s Song Yu."
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Date: 15 September 2022 20:47 (UTC)no subject
Date: 15 September 2022 21:38 (UTC)Her western neighbor: a Song Yu.
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Date: 17 September 2022 00:08 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 September 2022 15:09 (UTC)