Vermilion Cliff's willows yearn for spring breeze,
Plum blooms on Yu Ridge still bear snow's freeze.
You ride a lean horse southward—I recall,
But who knows a true dragon behind thrall?
My homeland is a landscape beyond compare,
When shall we share these hills with kindred care?
Choose white egrets or Green Plains without despair,
Thatched huts we'll build—but which site shall we dare?
朱崖柳色欲春风，庾岭梅花尚雪容。
念子南归骑瘦马，只今谁解好真龙。
吾乡端是山水窟，何日来同丘壑胸。
白鹭青原不妨拣，诛茅结屋看何从。
Written by Yang Wanli for his friend Fu Junyu, this poem was likely composed during Yang's period of retreat in Jishui. At the time, he faced repeated setbacks in his official career and struggled with poor health, fostering a longing for a reclusive life amidst mountains and valleys. His deep friendship with Fu, rooted in shared ideals, is reflected in this work—both as a gesture of concern for his friend's return and an imaginative vision of their future together enjoying nature. Through poetry, Yang blends friendship, landscape, and life aspirations, revealing his unique spirit.
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.
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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