Beginning of Spring
- Poetry of Du Fu

For spring’s first day, “spring plates” with slender shoots,

at once I recall the two capitals, the time when plums come out.

Plates went forth from noble gates bringing that white jade,

the foods were carried by dainty hands bringing threads of green.

The Wu Gorges, the cold river – how can I bear to face them?

The far wayfarer from Duling feels unbearable sorrow.

Since this body does not know where to go to rest,

I call to the lad to find paper and I write a poem.