В первый год пребывания во дворце она написала первое произведение по приказу императора. Хотя оно и написано "по заказу", но звучит вполне искренне, в нем описываются чувства молодой девушки, разлученной с семьей.
Rhapsody of Thoughts on Separation
I
Born in the humble seclusion of a thatched hut,
I knew nothing of state documents.
I never saw the splendid portraits painted on palace walls,
Or heard the canons and counsels of the ancient sages.
Despite my foolish vulgarity and meager learning,
I was mistakenly given a place in the purple chamber.
This is not a place for a rustic,
And I constantly tremble with worry and fear.
My breast is filled with the sadness of longing,
Redoubled by ten thousand unremitting cares.
Alas, heavy sorrows accumulate deep within me!
Alone in my torment, I have no way to vent them.
My mind is vexed and troubled, joyless;
My thoughts are tied in a tangle, and my longing increases.
At night I lie awake unable to sleep;
My soul is restless, fretful till dawn.
Wind, soughing and sighing, rises all around;
Frost, pure white, covers the courtyard.
The sun, dim and dark, casts no light;
The air is sad and gloomy, bitterly cold.
I hear many sorrowful feelings
And am afflicted by tears that fall of themselves.
II
Of old, Boyu, handsome and fair,
Always dressed in colored clothes to cheer his parents.
I grieve at the separation of today;
Like Antares and Orion, long have family and I been parted.
It is not that the distance is far
It does not even exceed several rods.
How cold and confining the forbidden palace!
I wish to gaze into the distance but lack the means.
I look up at the moving clouds and sob;
Flowing tears soak my gown.
Qu Yuan was beset with sorrow;
Oh, how he grieved at separation!
He who wrote a song at the wall tower
Compared one day to three months.
How much more painful for parents and children who love each other,
Cut off so long and so far.
Long have I been laden with sorrow, afflicted with grief;
I look up at the blue sky and weep tears of blood.
The Coda says:
Parents and children, the dearest of kin,
Have been transformed into strangers.
We bid a final farewell,
And I was sorrowful and sad.
I dream that my soul returns home,
And I see my loved ones.
I wake with a start and cry out:
My heart cannot comfort itself.
Copious tears pour down my face;
I pick up a brush and express my feelings.
Tear upon tear falls
As I make my plaint in this poem.
Еще одно стихотворение похожей тематики, написанное в ответ на послание брата "Печаль от разлуки":
В стихотворении "Песенка дятла" она аллегорически описывает свою скромную судьбу. Перевод на английский и русский под катом:
Heartfelt Feelings on Separation
From the time I left our parents,
Suddenly two years have passed.
The distance separating us has become gradually greater;
When shall I pay my respects to them again?
В 274 году она получила более высокий ранг гуйпинь (почетная спутница). Цзо Фэнь часто болела и не принимала большого участия в придворной жизни. Император заказывал ей стихи и прозу по различным поводам. Например, она написала оду на смерть императрицы Ян. I have perused what you kindly told me in your letter,
And I savor the words of your sorrowful song of separation.
I can almost imagine your face before me,
And I sigh and sob out of control.
When will we meet again
To amuse ourselves with prose and verse?
How can I recount my misery?
I'll express my feelings in writing.
В стихотворении "Песенка дятла" она аллегорически описывает свою скромную судьбу. Перевод на английский и русский под катом:
Woodpecker Song
There is a bird in the southern hills;
It calls itself "woodpecker."
When hungry it pecks a tree;
At dusk it sleeps in a nest.
It seeks nothing from man,
And does as it pleases.
Such is the nature of the birds and beasts.
Honor shall come to one of pure character,
But he who sullies himself shall fall into disgrace.
Дятел
Дятел
В Южных горах он извечно живет.
Дятлом он звался во все времена.
День прокормиться - всего-то забот -
И на ночлег улететь дотемна.
Он от людей укрывается здесь,
жить ему любо на воле средь гор.
Скромным в желаньях - и слава, и честь,
Алчным - навеки и стыд и позор!