虞美人·听雨

虞美人·听雨

【宋】蒋捷

少年听雨歌楼上。红烛昏罗帐。壮年听雨客舟中。江阔云低，断雁叫西风。

而今听雨僧庐下。鬓已星星也。悲欢离合总无情。一任阶前，点滴到天明。

Listening to the Rain

--to the tune of Yu Mei Ren

By Jiang Jie

Tr. Qin Dachuan

I heard the rain in the singsong house back in my youthful times--

Scarlet candle light flickering across the curtain drawn.

When I grew older and came into my prime of life,

I listened to the rain in the boat drifting far from home.

The vast waters surged to meet the cloud-laden sky;

Against the stinging gale a stray wild goose honked.

Now I’m listening to the rain in a monk’s hut when staying for a night,

And I’m looking into the mirror to find my white hair sparsely grown.

A harsh reality：people meet and part, rejoice and pine;

Forget about the rain dripping on the doorstep from dusk till dawn.