The water is warm, and ducks on the River of Spring
Must be the first to know
Lush greens and sprouted reeds, strewn all over the shore
It’s time for pufferfish from the sea
Coming home
Geese in pairs eager to elope
So are homecomers from the north
It’s told the deserts are still laden with snow storms
Why don’t you stay here half a month in the south
Alongside the River of Spring in hometown
~ Translated by Dot, from Su Shi’s “Scenery Alongside The River of Spring,” written in the Song dynasty
竹外桃花三兩枝，春江水暖鴨先知。 蒌蒿滿地蘆芽短，正是河豚欲上時。
两两归鸿欲破群，依依还似北归人。 遥知朔漠多风雪，更待江南半月春。
~ 蘇軾 <<惠崇春江晚/曉景>>
Su Shi, also known by his art name Su Dongpo, born in 1037 and died in 1101, is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in classical Chinese literature. He was prolific and all-around versatile – a brilliant essayist, lyricist, calligrapher, painter, poet,politician, meditator … all in all an extremely interesting and inspiring character, widely admired by all people in China since the Song dynasty.
