English Rendering
Dishevelled white hair flows in the wind like frost spread,
In my small study I lie ill in a wicker bed.
Knowing that I am sleeping a sweet sleep in spring,
The Taoist priest takes care morning bells softly ring.
An Impromptu Verse Written in Exile
- Poetry of Su Shi
《纵笔》
Original Text (中文原文)
白头萧散满霜风，小阁藤床寄病容。
报道先生春睡美，道人轻打五更钟。
Analysis & Context
The poet was exiled farther south for the 3rd line.
Reader's Companion
The Essence of the Verse
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Reading Between the Lines
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
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