What follows is a personal interpretation and translation of the famed Chinese poem 长恨歌，or The Song of Everlasting Regret, by the poet 白居易. Written in the ninth century, it depicts the tragic love story between an emperor and his concubine and is renowned for its literary flourish and narrative flow. This article covers the first section of the poem:

汉皇重色思倾国，御宇多年求不得。

For many years the emperor sought a beauty who would make the whole nation blush, but such a woman he could never find.

杨家有女初长成，养在深闺人未知。

The daughter of the Yang household, kept hidden in the boudoir, was a blooming youth whom the world could not see.

天生丽质难自弃，一朝选在君王侧。

Blessed with wit and beauty, her aspirations could not be forsaken. Soon, she entered the palace and was seated by the emperor’s side.

回眸一笑百媚生，六宫粉黛无颜色。

A head’s turn, an enchanting smile, a thousand flowers bloomed—such glamour all six harems could not compare.

春寒赐浴华清池，温泉水滑洗凝脂。

Come springtime she bathed in the imperial pond, alabaster skin gleamed in the glassy drizzle, white as milk.

侍儿扶起娇无力，始是新承恩泽时。

Delicate beauty, lovely eloquence, and exquisite charm, she was fated to receive the emperor’s grace.

云鬓花颜金步摇，芙蓉帐暖度春宵。

Golden flowers, gemstone beads, painted visage, swaying steps, behind the lotus curtains there were many a sleepless night.

春宵苦短日高起，从此君王不早朝。

Alas, the night was short and the day was without end, and so never again did the emperor early rise.

承欢侍宴无闲暇，春从春游夜专夜。

Spring bloomed, summer waned, a thousand feasts and banquets came and went, she alone remained by the emperor’s side.

后宫佳丽三千人，三千宠爱在一身。

The emperor’s love, once shared by three thousand concubines, she enjoyed alone.

金屋妆成娇侍夜，玉楼宴罢醉和春。

From her gilded chamber she emerged wrapped in glamour for the night, splendid banquets in jade towers left her drunk with sensual grace.

姊妹弟兄皆列土，可怜光彩生门户。

Brothers were made lords and sisters became ladies: a forgotten household was ascendent once more.

遂令天下父母心，不重生男重生女。

Thus did the hearts of all the parents under the heavens change: they prayed for daughters not for sons.

骊宫高处入青云，仙乐风飘处处闻。

High amongst the clouds, in the palace of pleasure, celestial melodies soared.

缓歌慢舞凝丝竹，尽日君王看不足。

The silk songs of flutes and the heavenly beats of drums, never did the emperor tire of the empyrean rhythm and her peerless dance.

渔阳鼙鼓动地来，惊破霓裳羽衣曲。

But when the southern earth rumbled with the drums of war, the melodies of pleasure were broken by the din of arms.

To be continued……