Li Yu: How much sorrow can there be?

To the Tune of The Beauty from Yu

Spring flowers, autumn moon, when do they come to an end?
Looking at past times, I know just how much
In the little tower last night, an east wind again
I cannot bear to turn my head toward the old country under the bright moon
The carven railings, the jade-white steps must still be there
Only the fair faces have changed.
I ask you, how much sorrow can there be?
As much as the great river flowing east in spring floods.

    --Li Yu 李煜 (937-978), last king of the southern Tang dynasty, lost his kingdom and finished his life a prisoner of the new Song dynasty. Li Yu is considered one of China's major poets. 

You can hear famous Chinese singer Deng Lijun 鄧麗君 (Teresa Deng) singing this poem here. 

虞美人

春花秋月何時了，
往事知多少。
小樓昨夜又東風，
故國不堪回首月明中。
雕闌玉砌應猶在，
只是朱顏改。
問君能有幾多愁，
恰似一江春水向東流。

Comments

[Linda M Epstein]

your blog is on my favorites, and I thank you for it. Today, I thank you for this poem and the beautiful voice of Teresa Teng.

The ignorance of each of us sometimes is pierced beautifully by the sweet suggestion of another.

I read what your write, what you post.

[Sedulia]

Thank you so much, Linda!

I'm not satisfied with my translation of the second line. It should be something like "I know the answer..." but literally it says "I know how much." The king is comparing his own past with the spring flowers and the autumn moon, which will come again, while his past will not.