Returning to Live in the South Ⅲ
- Poetry of Tao Yuanming
I sow my beans below the southern hills,
Though grasses flourish, the sprouting beans are scarce.
I rise at dawn to clear the wasteland up,
Beneath the moon I carry back my hoe.
The path is narrow, the trees and grass grown tall,
My clothes are dampened by the evening dew.
Yet dampened clothes are nothing to begrudge,
If only my desires can be fulfilled.
Composed around 405 CE, this poem is the third in Tao Yuanming's five-part "Returning to Dwell in Gardens and Fields" series. While the first two poems reflect on the tranquility and philosophical insights of reclusion, this work focuses on the tangible details of farm labor, using the hardships of fieldwork to illuminate the poet's inner contentment. With unadorned language and unpretentious honesty, the verses reveal profound personal strength and spiritual depth. Through authentic depictions of agricultural life, Tao expresses his unwavering commitment to "remaining true to his original aspiration," demonstrating his embrace of simplicity and rejection of worldly vanity.
种豆南山下，草盛豆苗稀。
晨兴理荒秽，带月荷锄归。
道狭草木长，夕露沾我衣。
衣沾不足惜，但使愿无违。
- Why Chinese poems is so special?
- The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
- How to read a Chinese poem?
- Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.