TUNE: A PAIR OF SWALLOWS

双双燕

Spring’s growing old.

过春社了，

Between the curtains dust in last year’s nest is cold.

度帘幕中间，

A pair of swallows bank and halt to see

去年尘冷。

If they can perch there side by side.

差池欲住?

Looking at painted ceiling and carved beams

时入旧巢相并。

And twittering, they can’t decide.

还相雕梁藻井，

Clipping the tips of blooming tree,

又软语商量不定。

They shed

飘然快拂花梢，

The shadow of their forked tails, which seems

翠尾分开红影。

To cleave its way through flowers red.

芳径，

Along the fragrant way

芹泥雨润，

Where rain has wetted clods of clay,

爱贴地争飞，

They like to skim over the ground.

竞夸轻俊。

Striving to be fleet in flight,

红楼归晚，

They return late to mansions red in twilight.

看足柳昏花暝。

Having gazed their fill on flowers and willows drowned

应自栖香正稳，

In the shade, they should perch in fragrant nest,

便忘了天涯芳信。

Forgetting to bring message from the end of the sky.

愁损翠黛双蛾，

Grieved, with eyebrows knit, the lady would rest

日日画阑独凭。