一老年人 楓，葉謝寒霜披彩虹。When Frost comes their Leaves wither and die

《十六字令‧楓》一老年人

   楓，

   葉謝寒霜披彩虹。

   離枝去，作蝶怨西風。

TUNE: Shí Liù Zì Lìng "16-Character Ci "

TITLE: Feng  "The Maples" 

-- by 一老年人 'A Man of Advanced Years'

--  Translated by Frank C Yue

The Maples –

Thanking the Frost, Maple Leaves then die,

Putting on colours of the Rainbow.

Launch’d from branches, they transform into 

Butterflies,

Dancing wild with the West Wind in sorrow! 


Translator's Note:

'謝'in 葉謝寒霜寒霜 is a pun, meaning both 'wither'and 'thanking'the Frost that facilitates their transformation.