A friend sends her perfumed carriage
And high-bred horses to fetch me.
I decline the invitation of
My old poetry and wine companion.
I remember the happy days in the lost capital.
We took our ease in the woman’s quarters.
The Feast of Lanterns was elaborately celebrated –
Folded pendants, emerald hairpins, brocaded girdles,
New sashes – we competed
To see who was most smartly dressed.
Now I am withering away,
Wind-blown hair, frost temples.
I prefer to stay beyond the curtains,
And listen to talk and laughter
I can no longer share.
(Li Ching Chao)
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Based on Topics: Friendship Poems, Happiness Poems, Woman Poems, Hair Poems, Capital PoemsBased on Keywords: dressed, decline, wine, horses, folded, laughter, prefer, fetch, curtains, sends, temples