Member Poem

The Summer Palace

 
Yuan Zhen (779 – 831)
 
 
This ancient palace lies abandoned here
As remnant flowers scatter blooms bright red;
The palace maidens now are white-haired dames
Who sit in idle talk of times long dead.
 
 

Chinese	Pronunciation
行宮	Xíng Gōng
元稹	Yuán Zhěn
寥落古行宮	Liáo luò gǔ xíng gōng
宮花寂寞紅	Gōng huā jì mò hóng
白頭宮女在	Bái tóu gōng nǚ zài
閒坐說玄宗	Xián zuò shuō xuán zōng

 
 
Transliteration and Notes
 
Vacation Palace
 
Empty sparse ancient vacation palace
Palace flowers still silent red
White head palace maid at
Idle sit speak Xuan Zong
 
     Yuan Zhen was a novelist, poet, and high government official, rising briefly to Chancellor. He was friendly with contemporary poet, Bai Juyi.     This poem was set in the aftermath of Anshi Rebellion (755-763), which resulted in the sack of the capital, Chang’an, and the permanent weakening of the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Xuanzong (685-762) had brought the Tang Dynasty to the pinnacle of its power in his early years, but later became more interested in his lovers than in governance, allowing the rebellion to foment. This poem has court ladies who entered the palace as young maidens reminiscing about how vibrant things used to be early in the emperor’s reign.