The weary embroiderer's quiet dream stretches long;
A golden-caged parrot calls for tea.
By the bright window, Sheyue opens the palace mirror;
In the misty room, Tanxiang savors imperial incense.
The amber cup tilts—lotus dew slips smooth;
The crystal balustrade admits the willow breeze's cool.
Whose swallow carries spring mud in its beak?
It plays in the evening light before the window.
English titles, text, and notes are AI-assisted for reading only; for scholarship cite the Chinese and authoritative editions.
Annotation
The summer entry in Baoyu's four seasonal poems. 'Sheyue opens the mirror' and 'Tanxiang savors incense' cleverly weave maid names into the poem (Sheyue and Tanyun are both Baoyu's maids), creating a seamless blend. It depicts a warm summer evening at Happy Red Court.
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