《怨歌行》汉·班婕妤 Song of Resentment by Ban Jieyu [Han Dynasty]

Original Text

新裂齐纨素,皎洁如霜雪。
裁作合欢扇,团团似明月。
出入君怀袖,动摇微风发。
常恐秋节至,凉飙夺炎热。
弃捐箧笥中,恩情中道绝。

Annotated

I have rendered this character-by-character annotation from personal knowledge. If you see any mistakes, please comment or contact.

Translation

Translation by David R. Knechtges,
From Women writers of traditional China : an anthology of poetry and criticism

Newly
 cut 
white 
silk 
from 
Qi,























Glistening 
and 
pure
 as 
frost 
and 
snow:























Fashioned
 into 
a
 fan 
of
 "conjoined
 bliss,"
















Round,
round
 as 
the
 bright
 moon.























It
 goes 
in 
and
 out 
of
 my 
lord's
 breast 
and
 sleeve;























Waved, 
it
 stirs
 a 
gentle 
breeze.























But 
I 
always 
fear
 autumn's
 coming,














When 
chilling 
winds 
dispel
 blazing 
heat.























Then 
it 
will 
be 
thrown 
into
 a
 box,























And
 his
 love
 will
 be 
cut 
off 
midcourse.

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