Forbidden City,
Beijing,
China.
Her home is a land of lotus and water-lillies,
when the new song is ended her joy has gone.
Dry clouds roll like flames upon the sunlit river.
Solemnly the girl from Qin plays her lute of jade,
Stirring the dust on the rafters to dance in the breeze.
The music turns violent; the icy strings snap;
Loudly and strong fly the shooting stars.
Lu Xun (1933)
