Releasing My Sorrow 2, Yuan Zhen (300 Tang Shi #206)

[lnhammer]

In former days, we joked about our post-life plans.
This morning, they arrived before my eyes.
Your clothing will be donated—I’ll see to that soon.
Your sewing kit remains—I can’t bear opening it.
I still have feelings for you, so am fond of your maid.
I now rely on dreams, and send you paper money.
I know well this regret: everyone will have it.
A humble couple will all sorts of matters mourn.

遣悲怀 之二
昔日戏言身后事，
今朝都到眼前来。
衣裳已施行看尽，
针线犹存未忍开。
尚想旧情怜婢仆，
也曾因梦送钱财。
诚知此恨人人有，
贫贱夫妻百事哀。

The point of the somewhat compressed line 5 is that, because he still loves his dead wife, he’s fond of someone he associates with her, her dressing maid. I could possibly unpack that a little better. Paper replicas of money were (and still are) burned as part of offerings for the dead.

---L.

Comments

[sartorias]

Oh, the little details, including the maid, add to the poignance. How do you get "joked" there?

[larryhammer]

戏言 has the common idiomatic meaning of "make fun of" / "make a joke" / "make light of" -- and commentaries for modern readers understand that sense applied back then.

[sartorias]

Ah! Thank you! "Xi" is new to me--but I'm still at toddler level.

[lnhammer]

It was new to me as well, actually. (SO much to learn.)