Echoes of the evening rain
Resonates on the bedroom window
Like the sky, my tears fall too
Alone in my room once more
Lanterns surround me
They cast my sombre shadow
Oh, but I can still see two
We whispered promises
We traded secrets
But when will they be enough
For a mere princess like me can have everything
Everything but you
Don’t leave me alone with him
You know I only have eyes for you
And now I’m left with this white jade jug you gifted me
What more can I do but drink myself to sleep again
As I try to wash you down with something strong
Bitter like our star-crossed love
Sweet like your lips
I’ll savour this grape wine just to pass the time
If I get high enough
Will I be able to be with you amongst the stars too?
Forgive me, father
For you have taken away my only reason to live
My love, I coming to be by your side
Forever and always
This poem is based during the Tang Dyansty, during Emperor Taizong’s rule (618 – 626 CE). The poem is written by Princess Gaoyang (seventeenth daughter of Emperor Taizong) after the death of her lover, Bianji. Bianji is a monk who broke monastic rules as it is forbidden for a monk to have intimate relationships and hence, was executed by the order of Emperor Taizong. Princess Gaoyang was devastated and drowned herself in wine to numb her pain.