The Four Seasons

四景诗

　

"The Four Seasons" poems were composed by Huang Qiaoshan (AD 872 - AD 953) after he retired from politics in AD 917. It was also recorded in the "Annals of Shaowu Prefecture" 《邵武府志》.

春
花落断桥流水，莺啼深院轻烟，
雨歇桃源浪暖，澄潭未许龙眼。
夏
赤日远衔蔡影，薰风浓带荷香，
案上书添碧色，芭蕉绿映南窗。
秋
阶下黄葩晓露，庭前丹桂秋风，
未忍抛书歆枕，冰轮驭正舟车。
冬
烟淡淡迷古树，月明明浸梅花，
昨夜阶前积雪，余晖白映窗纱。

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
by Ivan Yip (Canada) et al ©


The Four Seasons

Spring

In the morning mist, flower pedals can be seen everywhere over the broken bridge and in the stream underneath, while nightingales sing in the large back yard;

As the mist clears, the sun slowly warms the flower-strewn stream, which flows to far away places beyond the horizon.

Summer

In the hot sun, the street to the shady vegetable market seems so far away, despite the soothing fragrance of water lilies in the warm breeze;

The books on the counter are decorated with various greens, while the southern window is nicely shaded by large banana leaves.

Autumn

At daybreak, yellow corolla flowers bloom beneath the staircase, as red cinnamon trees dance in the autumn breeze in the front yard;

It's hard for anybody to leave their comfortable study or their incensed-filled bedroom, because of the icy roads and streams which make traffic unsafe by wagon or by boat.

Winter

The ageless tall trees are almost lost in the smoky sky, before peach flowers stand out in the clear chilling moonlight;

Snow is formed in the patio at night, obvious from the window screens with the melting water drops reflecting the morning sunlight.