Reply to Li Shuyi

Reply to Li Shuyi is a poem written on May 11, 1957 by Mao Zedong to Li Shuyi, a friend of Mao's first wife Yang Kaihui and the widow of the executed Communist leader Liu Zhixun. In the poem, "poplar" refers to Yang Kaihui, whose surname Yang means "poplar", and who also had been executed; and "willow" is the literal meaning of Liu's surname. Wu Gang is a man who, according to Chinese legend, lives on the moon, and was forced by the gods to fell a laurel tree forever.

我失骄杨君失柳 杨柳轻扬直上重霄九 问讯吴刚何所有 吴刚捧出桂花酒
 * Original Chinese

寂寞嫦娥舒广袖 万里长空且为忠魂舞 忽报人间曾伏虎 泪飞顿作倾盆雨

Wǒ shī jiāo yáng jūn shī liǔ Yáng liǔ qīng yáng zhí shàng chóng xiāo jiǔ Wèn xùn wú gāng hé suǒ yǒu Wú gāng pěng chū guì huā jiǔ
 * Pinyin

Jì mò cháng'é shū guǎng xiù Wàn lǐ cháng kōng qiě wèi zhōng hún wǔ Hū bào rén jiān céng fú hǔ Lèi fēi dùn zuò qīng pén yǔ

I lost my proud poplar, and you your willow, Poplar and willow soar lightly to the heaven of heavens. Wu Kang, asked what he has to offer, Presents them respectfully with cassia wine.
 * Schram's English Translation

The lonely goddess in the moon spreads her ample sleeves To dance for these faithful souls in the endless sky. Of a sudden comes word of the tiger's defeat on earth, And they break into tears of torrential rain.

I lost my proud poplar and you your willow. As poplar and willow they soar straight up into the ninth heaven and ask the prisoner of the moon, Wu Gang, what is there. He offers them wine from the cassia tree.
 * Barnstone's English Translation

The lonely lady on the moon, Chang E, spreads her vast sleeves and dances for these good souls in the unending sky. Down on earth a sudden report of the tiger's defeat. Tears fly down from a great upturned bowl of rain.