The Palace
Yuan Zhen [Tang Dynasty
In the ancient palace, the palace flowers are lonely and red.
The palace maids with white heads are sitting idly talking about Emperor Xuanzong.
元稹 〔唐代〕
寥落古行宫，宫花寂寞红。
白头宫女在，闲坐说玄宗。
Translation
The once magnificent ancient palace is now desolate and cold, and the beautiful flowers in
the palace are opening in loneliness and desolation.
The few surviving palace maids with white hair can only talk about the anecdotes of Emperor
Xuanzong.
Commentary
寥（liáo）落：Lonesome and cold.
The Palace: The emperor's palace outside the capital. Here refers to Shang Yang Palace, the
emperor's palace in Luoyang, the eastern capital at that time.
Palace flowers: the flowers in the palace.
According to Bai Juyi's "The White Haired Man of Shang Yang", some palace maids were
"submerged" in Shang Yang Palace at the end of Tian Bao, and became white haired palace
maids after being shut up in this cold palace for more than 40 years.
Say: Talk about.
Xuanzong: refers to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)