night lights a thousand trees in bloom
a shower of stars blown
by the east wind
ornate carriages drawn by gallant horses
filled the boulevards with a sweet fragrance
voice of the magic flute flowing
luster of the jade white urn turning
all night the fishes and the dragons danced
butterflies,willows,charms of gold
gone -- that angelic laughter,that subtle perfume
in the crowds for her I’d searched a thousand times
perchance I turned
and there she was
where lights were few and dim
The Poet:Xin Qiji (1140-1207),
one of the best poets of the Song dynasty,
was a general who had trained a powerful army and led
some very successful campaigns against the northern
invaders,but was repeatedly held back and dismissed
and reappointed by his emperor.Eventually,he retired
and died a frustrated warrior yet a very accomplished poet.