李白 勞勞亭 translation: Pavilion of Misery, by Li Bai
This is a very rough translation and annotation of the poem 勞勞亭 (Láoláo Tíng), ‘Pavilion of Misery’, by the Tang Dynasty Chinese poet 李白 (Lǐ Bái).
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勞勞亭 Láoláo Tíng [sad] [sad] [pavilion] Pavilion of Misery
天下傷心處 Tiānxià shāngxīn chù, [heaven] [under] [hurt] [heart] [place] The world's place of heart-breaking;
勞勞送客亭 láo láo sòng kè tíng. [sad] [sad] [see off] [guest] [pavilion] the sad pavilion of seeing off guests.
春風知別苦 Chūnfēng zhī bié kǔ, [spring] [wind] [know] [parting] [bitter] The spring winds know the bitterness of parting;
不遣柳條青 bù qiǎn liǔtiáo qīng. [not] [send out] [willow] [branch] [green] no longer do green willow twigs come forth. (Willow twigs are a common symbol of streams of tears.)
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Sources and further reading
