Dai Biaoyuan 1244-1310

Remembering An Old Troubador
Dai Biaoyuan 1244-1310

In better days he sang of peonies, purple and red,
Holding vermillion tasseled sandlewood clappers.
Now, white haired, he sings in Jiangnan for a cup of wine,
No one would know he is another Li Gunian!

Or,

Then;
Purple and red peonies
in bright sunlight,
Sandalwood castanets
vermillion tasseled
a silver score.
Now;
Gray haired
in Jiangnan
singing for a jug of wine,
No one to realize
he's another Li Guinian!