虞美人虞美人，芳草地，一夜花开一夜歇。美人寻芳不顾死，只因身在最高枝。愿落花尽似君子，风佞客请吹胡须。我欲与君相知，长命无绝衰。山无陵，江水为竭，冬雷震震，夏雨雪，天地合，乃敢与君绝！
虞美人
虞美人，芳草地，一夜花开一夜歇。
美人寻芳不顾死，只因身在最高枝。
愿落花尽似君子，风佞客请吹胡须。
上邪！
我欲与君相知，长命无绝衰。
山无陵，江水为竭，冬雷震震，夏雨雪，天地合，乃敢与君绝！
General translation:
"The Beautiful Lady of Yu"
The Beautiful Lady of Yu,
In the fragrant grass,
Blossoms overnight and withers in a night.
The beautiful lady seeks fragrance disregarding death,
Only because she is on the highest branch.
I hope the fallen flowers would be like esteemed gentlemen,
May the wind please blow the beards of flatterers.
Oh deity above!
I desire to know you intimately,
To have an eternal, unending life.
May there be no mountains or rivers to separate us,
Winter thunder shaking, summer rain snowing.
Heaven and earth joining, so I dare not sever ties with you!
Analysis:
This poem was written by Li Yu, a prominent poet and Southern Tang Dynasty ruler. The poem reflects the fleeting nature of beauty and the pursuit of desire without fearing death. The Beautiful Lady of Yu represents worldly desires and how individuals may risk their lives to obtain them.
The opening lines describe the Beautiful Lady of Yu blossoming overnight but withering quickly. This signifies the transience of beauty and the ephemeral nature of life. The following lines depict the lady's determination to seek fragrance at the risk of death, symbolizing humanity's pursuit of worldly desires without considering the consequences.
The poet then expresses a wish for the fallen flowers to resemble esteemed gentlemen, suggesting that he longs for virtue and nobility in a society filled with flattery and deceit. The line "May the wind please blow the beards of flatterers" might be interpreted as a desire for truth and authenticity, as flatterers often hide their true intentions.
The poem concludes with an emphatic declaration, calling upon the heavens for an eternal bond with the beloved. The poet rejects the notion of separation and proclaims his yearning for an everlasting connection. This portrays a longing for eternal love and coexistence beyond the constraints of earthly boundaries.
Overall, "The Beautiful Lady of Yu" is a poignant reflection on the transient nature of desires and the pursuit of eternal love. The poem provokes thought on the value of worldly passions and the longing for enduring connections.