ON SEEING THE PORTRAIT OF A BEAUTIFUL CONCUBINE

Fine rain,

Spring mud

Slippery as bean curds.

In a rose-red flash, she approaches—

Beautiful, sparkling like wine;

Tottering as though overcome with wine.

Her little feet slip on the sliding path;

Who will support her?

Clearly it is her picture

We see here,

In a rose-red silken dress,

Her hair plaited like the folds

Of the hundred clouds.

It is Manshu.

Ch'en Hung-Shou, 19th Century