As blossoms fade and fly across the sky, Who pities the faded red, the scent that has been? Softly the gossamer floats over spring pavilions, Gently the willow fluff wafts to the embroidered screen. A girl in her chamber mourns the passing of spring, No relief from anxiety her poor heart knows; Hoe in hand she steps through her portal, Loath to tread on the blossom as she comes and goes. Willows and elms, fresh and verdant, Care not if peach and plum blossom drift away; Next year the peach and plum will bloom again, But her chamber may stand empty on that day. By the third month the scented nests are built, But the swallows on the beam are heartless all; Next year, though once again you may peck the buds, From the beam of an empty room your nest will fall. Each year for three hundred and sixty days The cutting wind and biting frost contend. How long can beauty flower fresh and fair? In a single day wind can whirl it to its end. Fallen, the brightest blooms are hard to find; With aching heart their grave-digger comes now. Alone, her hoe in hand, her secret tears Falling like drops of blood on each bare bough. Dusk falls and the cuckoo is silent; Her hoe brought back, the lodge is locked and still; A green lamp lights the wall as steep enfolds her, Cold rain pelts the casement and her quilt is chill. What causes my two-fold anguish? Love for spring and resentment of spring; For suddenly it comes and suddenly goes, Its arrival unheralded, noiseless its departing. Last night from the courtyard floated a sad song – Was it the soul of blossom, the soul of birds? Hard to detain, the soul of blossom or birds, For blossoms have no assurance, birds no words. I long to take wing and fly With the flowers to earth's uttermost bound; And yet at earth's uttermost bound Where can a fragrant burial mound be found? Better shroud the fair petals in silk With clean earth for their outer attire; For pure you came and pure shall go, Not sinking into some foul ditch or mire. Now you are dead I come to bury you; None has divined the day when I shall die; Men laugh at my folly in burying fallen flowers, But who will bury me when dead I lie? See, when spring draws to a close and flowers fall, This is the season when beauty must ebb and fade; The day that spring takes wing and beauty fades Who will care for the fallen blossom or dead maid?