The pavilion floats on hydrologic thought,
Daily docking winecups where clouds are caught.
Willows conspire with mist's soft coup,
Lotuses race to unveil pearl-dew.
City walls extrude from mountain hues,
Wave-sounds colonize all eaves' views.
Who claims Penglai's beyond our state?
Twin counties brew fairydom in this crate.
水心还有拂云堆，日日应须把酒杯。
杨柳巧含烟景合，芙蓉争带露华开。
城头山色相围出，檐底波声四面来。
谁信瀛洲未归去，两州俱得小蓬莱。
This poem was composed by Zeng Gong during his tenure as a local official, though its exact date remains unverified, likely written during his postings in Chuzhou, Qizhou, or Fuzhou. The Pavilion of Encircling Waves (环波亭) stands as a lofty structure by the water's edge, offering panoramic views of surrounding lakes and mountains. Its serene and elegant scenery provides the perfect setting for poetic contemplation. Through depicting the pavilion's seasonal landscapes, the poem expresses the poet's appreciation for natural beauty while embodying his yearning for an ideal realm of leisurely living.
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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