Li Bai – Ballad of Four Seasons: Winter
In the fourth and last of Li Bai’s seasonal ballads, the poet places us in a woman’s chamber in Chang’an, the Tang capital. The woman is sewing a warm cloak
(征袍) for her warrior husband. He is serving with General Geshu Han in Lintao County (臨洮) on the Tibetan border.
The messenger leaves at first light ( 明朝 ), so she must hurry to complete her task in spite of the cold.
💫🙏🏻 Welcome to correct 👇🙏🏻💫
子夜吴歌·冬歌
Zǐyè wú gē· dōng gē
Midnight in Wu , Winter Song
明朝驛使發
Míng cháo yì shǐ fā
At dawn, the messenger rides
素手抽針冷
yīyè xù zhēngpáo
Her pale hand works the cold needle
一夜絮征袍
sùshǒu chōu zhēn lěng
A battle jacket with quilt lining
那堪把剪刀
nà kān bǎ jiǎndāo
Hardly holding the scissors
裁縫寄遠道
cáiféng jì yuǎndào
A garment to be sent far away
幾日到臨洮
jǐ rì dào líntáo
How many days to Lintao?
💫👇General Geshu Han 💫