Thoughts On An Ancient Site:Birthplace Of Wang Qiang

Through flocks of mountains, myriad valleys,

    I arrive in Jingmen,

where Ming-fei was born and bred--*

    the village is still there.

Once she left the crimson terraces,

    there was nothing but endless desert;

only her evergreen grave is left

    to face the twilight.

Portraits have recorded

    her spring-fresh face;

the tinkle of girdle pendants heralds

    her soul's vain return by moonlight.

For a thousand years the pipa

    has wailed in its alien tongue,

as if its strings bemoan in song

    her tragic tale of grief.