柳如是(1618年~1664年),明末清初女诗人,本名杨爱,字如是,又称河东君,因读宋朝辛弃疾《贺新郎》中:“我见青山多妩媚,料青山见我应如是”,故自号如是。与马湘兰、卞玉京、李香君、董小宛、顾横波、寇白门、陈圆圆同称“秦淮八艳”。柳如是是明清易代之际的著名歌妓才女,幼即聪慧好学,但由于家贫,从小就被掠卖到吴江为婢,妙龄时坠入章台,改名为柳隐,在乱世风尘中往来于江浙、金陵之间。留下的作品主要有《湖上草》《戊寅草》与《尺牍》。
柳如是·《梦江南·怀人·其十二》
人何在,
人在小中亭。
想得起来匀面后,
知他和笑是无情。
遮莫向谁生。
Dream of the South:
Thinking of Someone
Liu Rushi
XII
Where was he?
At the middle pavilion.
Recall once after washing his face,
His carefree laughter seemed so unconcerned
Who knows for whom he smiled?
(Kang-I Sun Chang 译)