Delicate Fingers, Zhao Luanluan

[lnhammer]

Slim and slender, soft as jade, or shavings from spring scallions,
A long time kept inside her jade-green sleeves of fragrant gauze.
Yesterday they sought for notes upon the pipa strings—
And now the nails are clearly filled in using scarlet polish.

纤指
纤纤软玉削春葱，
长在香罗翠袖中。
昨日琵琶弦索上，
分明满甲染猩红。

A pipa is a lute-like instrument. Evidently someone hadn’t practiced for a while. Added in translation: “for notes.”

---L.

Comments

[sartorias]

Wow, even more elusive. But great images!

[lnhammer]

The mockery is a very different tone from the others.

[thistleingrey]

"Clearly" is interesting against the red polish, hmm--had to yank my brain away from clear lacquer.

[lnhammer]

Ah -- good point. I didn't even think of that semantic clash. 分明 means clear/obvious/distinct, and the first had the better rhythm. Something to tinker with.

ETA: easy fix: "And now her nails are obviously filled with scarlet polish." Rhythm slightly rocky, but at a place where they emphasize the meaning.