Screened by red gauze curtains, the distant lamp burns into night,
Waking from a dream, she finds her silk bedspread half unfilled.
Icy frost arrives suddenly, the orioles chatter in their cages.
Paulownia leaves, blown down by the west wind, cover the steps.
There is no rustle of silken sleeves, dust gathers in the Jade Court.

The empty houses are cold, still, without sound, their leaves fall
And lie upon the bars of doorway after doorway, becoming an emerald color.
The wide lake in autumn, its streams like blue-green jade buried under dead petals,
Attends the deserted magnolia boat moored safe but alone in the growing misty fog.

She meets her lover on the lake's far side, and gives him a jar of lotus seeds;
Thinking someone may have seen, she has been bashful half the day.
A red stone pendant jingles in the sky, the moon is cold at night and bleak.
On purloined boat she straightens her embroidered shoes,
gauze jacket beaded with sweat.