英译:
This poem, titled "Lotus Root," set to the tune of "Yulouchun," expresses a deep sense of longing for the past, and the impossibility of ever truly returning to it. The author, whose name is unknown, laments the passing of their youth, which they describe as "pastoral years." Now, like a broken lotus root, it seems impossible to reconnect with that time.
In the second stanza, the speaker describes waiting for someone by a bridge, the rails of which are vermilion-colored. Today, however, they search in vain for traces of that time, along a deserted path covered in yellow leaves. The imagery here is vivid and poignant, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life and memory.
The final stanza paints a surreal and dreamlike scene, as the speaker observes the mountains highlighted against a blue mist, and the sun turning dark red as it sets. The person they were waiting for has left, disappearing like a cloud.
Overall, this poem captures the bittersweet beauty of nostalgia, and the sense that the past is forever out of reach. The language and imagery of the poem are both delicate and powerful, conveying complex emotions in few words.