Unfolding My Thoughts

心郁郁之忧思兮，独永叹乎增伤。

Troubled thoughts gather in my heart; alone I sigh long and deepen my grief.

思蹇产之不释兮，曼遭夜之方长。

My tangled thoughts will not release me as the night stretches on.

悲秋风之动容兮，何回极之浮浮。

I grieve as the autumn wind changes my face; why does the circling wind keep drifting?

数惟荪之多怒兮，伤余心之忧忧。

I think again and again of the ruler's frequent anger, wounding my anxious heart.

愿摇起而横奔兮，览民尤以自镇。

I would rise and break away, but the people's blame makes me restrain myself.

结微情以陈词兮，矫以遗夫美人。

I gather my delicate feelings into words and lift them toward the beautiful one.

昔君与我诚言兮，曰黄昏以为期。

Once you spoke sincerely with me and appointed dusk as our meeting time.

羌中道而回畔兮，反既有此他志。

Yet halfway you turned away and broke the promise, your purpose already changed.

憍吾以其美好兮，览余以其修姱。

You displayed your beauty proudly and made me behold your splendid bearing.

与余言而不信兮，盖为余而造怒。

You spoke without keeping faith, then turned your anger on me.

愿承閒而自察兮，心震悼而不敢。

I would find a quiet moment to explain myself, but fear and distress hold me back.

悲夷犹而冀进兮，心怛伤之憺憺。

Sadly hesitating, I still hope to speak; my heart aches and trembles.

兹历情以陈辞兮，荪详聋而不闻。

I set out all my feelings, but you pretend deafness and will not hear.

固切人之不媚兮，众果以我为患。

Words that touch another's faults win no affection; the crowd indeed regards me as a threat.