Matching the Rhymes of Academician Yi's Reply to the Cockscomb Poem次韻李學士和雞冠花詩
1First Poem
萬花開了過眼空。坐見此花今久矣。拒霜黃菊晚方親。那有浮紅相仲季。千般態度看轉生。未必雞頭能獨似。沈吟比况終未工。豈以芳心灰已死。繁開掩亂高復低。爛若絳旗齊卓地。衆花多類剪輕羅。此若厚繒深染紫。肌文密緻少脆容。驟雨狂風猶肆爾。牧丹芍藥不多時。絶色又非吾輩跂。雖其亞者得長看。差勝西施一見耳。
All the flowers have bloomed and passed before my eyes, leaving emptiness and it is long now that I have sat looking at this flower The frost-barring lotus and the yellow chrysanthemum draw near only late where is there a fleeting red to contend with these as brothers? A thousand shapes come forth, changing as one looks it is not the cock's comb alone that it resembles Humming and comparing, I never quite succeed how could it be that my flowering heart has turned to ash and died? Blooming thick, screening in disorder, high and also low bright as red banners planted in even rows in the ground Common flowers are mostly as if thin silk were cut out this flower is as if thick silk were dyed deep purple Its flesh is close-grained, with little that is soft and in a sudden shower or a hard wind it still does as it pleases Peony and herbaceous peony do not last long and their surpassing color is not for us to stand on tiptoe after Though this be the next in rank, it can be looked at long a little better than one glance at Xi Shi
Interlinear notes 1
二首
Two poems.
2Second Poem
聞君改調罷謳吟。只讀梵書而已矣。相逢眞箇忘懷人。白髮婆娑如綺季。我作花詩先挑戰。卜君舊習今何似。不唯模狀妙且工。氣壯虹蜺猶不死。此花全爲君詩出。從此願入君家地。附成枝指束成叉。簇作錦窠重疊紫。大而菌者耳卷然。歧或侔兒髻丫爾。花心欲子更來吟。朶朶西傾長似跂。莫憂學士來未來。勖爾侵寒毋墮耳。
I hear that you have changed your tune and stopped chanting verse and read only the writings of the Buddha When we meet you are truly one who makes me forget my cares your white hair waving like Qi Ji (綺季) I made a flower poem and picked the fight first to divine how your old habit stands now Not only is your drawing of its shape subtle and well done your spirit is bold as a rainbow and not yet dead This flower came forth solely for your poem from now on may it enter the ground of your house Clinging, it stretches like a sixth finger; bound, it forms branches gathering, it becomes a nest of silk where purple lies on purple The big ones, like mushrooms, seem to have curled ears the split ones sometimes match a child's double topknot Does the flower's heart hope you will come and chant again? Blossom by blossom it leans westward, long as if on tiptoe Do not worry whether the Academician comes or not but strive, and meeting the cold, do not fall
Interlinear notes 1
君近讀楞嚴經。
You have lately been reading the Śūraṅgama Sūtra.