Song of White Snow: seeing off Judge Wu returning to the capital

Song of White Snow: seeing off Judge Wu returning to the capital

The north wind rolls the earth, the white grass snaps,

In the land of Hu, snow flies even in the eighth month.

Suddenly, as if a spring breeze had come overnight,

A thousand trees, ten thousand trees, burst into pear blossoms.

Scattering through beaded curtains, dampening silk screens,

Fox furs give no warmth, the brocade quilt is thin too.

The general cannot draw his horn-carved bow,

The protector's iron armor is too cold to wear.

The vast sea is crisscrossed with ice a hundred feet thick,

Gloomy clouds hang heavy, congealing across ten thousand miles.

At the central army camp, wine is set out for the returning guest,

With the huqin, the pipa, and the Qiang flute.

At dusk, thick snow falls by the camp gate,

The wind tugs at the red banner, frozen stiff and unmoving.

At the eastern gate of Luntai I see you off,

As you leave, snow fills the mountain roads ahead.

The mountains turn, the path winds—I can no longer see you,

Only the hoofprints left behind upon the snow.