THE RED PEONY

THE RED PEONY

Voluptuous green so leisurely and tranquil

and robe of red now light, now dark

heart of the flower sadness about to break

but how could we know this from such spring colours

88888888888Wang Wei, ad 699-731

8888888888888translated by D. Lattimore

The same poem translated by A Waley

The deep green foliage is quite and reposeful,

The petals are clad in various shades of red;

The pistil droops with melancholy —

Wondering if spring knows her intimate thoughts.