Zen & Purity

Many flowers of grasses and trees in the water and on the land

Are worthy of admiration.

Tao Yuan Ming of Jin dynasty only loved the chrysanthemum;

Since Tang Dynasty, all people have deeply loved the peonies.

But I only love the lotus, which came out of mud yet is not contaminated,

Washed by ripples yet is not voluptuous,

Its straight stem is hollow inside,

It does not grow into branches or vines,

Its clean fragrance diffuses a far distance,

It stands there perfectly upright and clean,

It shall only be admired from afar instead of being played in people’s hands.

I think the chrysanthemum is the recluse of the flowers;

Peony is the nobility of great wealth;

Lotus is the gentleman of the flowers.

Alas!

The love of chrysanthemum is seldom seen after Tao Yuan Ming,

Who else share the same love of Lotus that I have?

The love of peonies is of course widespread everywhere.

The lotus blooms in outer lake grow high and low;

After the rain over green hills fly the gulls white.

The painted boats on rippling water slowly go;

Our shadows move on mirror bright.

Two maidens sing the song of peach leaf in voices low,

Clad in light clothes apricot-red.

They come back with green shadow fed.

1

Row a boat alone in the river,

he paddles close to my boat.

If my girlfriends didn't call me back,

i really want to go deeper in the river with him. 

2

We both pluck the lotus flower in a river,

smilingly i throw the flower at him.

If people found what we're doing,

how couldn't they believe we're two happy lovers.

O'er water green the autumn moonshine s bright,

On Southern Lake they gather lilies white.

The lotus-blooms so lovely as to speak,

Outshine the bashful oars women's fair cheek.

The lotus flowers gently dance in the wind,

a skiff flies on the little pond.

Encounter him,i lower my head,shyly smile.

into the water unwittingly my hairpin falls.