Listen to this article鱼玄机，女，晚唐诗人，长安（今陕西西安）人。初名鱼幼薇，字蕙兰。咸通（唐懿宗年号，860—874）中为补阙李亿妾，以李妻不能容，进长安咸宜观出家为女道士。与文学家温庭筠为忘年交，唱和甚多。后被京兆尹温璋以打死婢女之罪名处死。鱼玄机性聪慧，有才思，好读书，尤工诗。与李冶、薛涛、刘采春并称唐代四大女诗人。其诗作现存五十首，收于《全唐诗》。有《鱼玄机集》一卷。其事迹见《唐才子传》等书。
鱼玄机·《访赵炼师不遇》
何处同仙侣，青衣独在家。
暖炉留煮药，邻院为煎茶。
画壁灯光暗，幡竿日影斜。
殷勤重回首，墙外数枝花。
Visiting a Master Alchemist, Not Finding Him at Home
Yu Xuanji
Where shall I look
for my spiritual friend?
An acolyte’s at home alone—
the stove is warm,
the herbs still cooking;
a neighbor prepares
some boiled tea.
Dimly lamplight flickers
on the murals of the walls;
from the banner pole
in the setting sun
a shadow leaning falls.
Over and over I look around;
flowers beyond the walls!
（Bannie Chow, Thomas Cleary 译）
