A Variant of Tone Woke Me

By Li Diao-yuan

I was awakened from a dream broken, and a melody chattered.

The sensual music came from afar, something haunting like dust in air.

It had no idea that traveling travelers were like running water.

They are the one comes in evening and goes in morning? It made a blunder.

translated by Chen Zihong

闻曲

【清】李调元

破梦惊闻一曲新，

琼花玉树细萦尘。

谁知行客如流水，

不是朝朝暮暮人。

注：李调元（1734-1803），字羹堂，号雨村，别署童山蠢翁，四川罗江县（今四川省德阳市罗江县调元镇）人。清代四川戏曲理论家、诗人。李调元与张问陶（张船山）、彭端淑合称“清代蜀中三才子”。