Hangzhou Spring Rain Begins to Clear Up
临 安 春 雨 初 霁
世 味 年 来 蒲 似 沙
谁 令 骑 马 客 京 华？
小 楼 一 夜 听 春 雨
深 苍 明 朝 卖 杏 花。
矮 纸 斜 行 闲 作 草
晴 窗 细 乳 戏 分 茶。
素 衣 莫 起 风 尘 叹
犹 及 清 明 可 到 家。
Lin An Chun Yu Chu Ji
Shi wei nian lai bo si sha
Shei ling qi ma ke jing hua?
Xiao lou yi ye ting chun yu
Shen xiang ming zhao mai ziang hua.
Ai zhi xie xing xian zuo cao
Qing chuang xi ru xi fen cha.
Su yi mo qi feng chen tan
You ji qing ming ke dao jia.
Hangzhou Spring Rain Begins to Clear Up
Reflecting upon society, after years I arrive here to disorder, our situation is light and flimsy like gauze
Who caused me to ride my horse to visit these capital elite?
Living above a small unit, up all evening listening to the spring rainfall
Down a deep alley in the dawn’s light, apricot blossom vendors still sell to the rich.
My writing paper covered with slanted and informal script, walk in leisure around the emerging grasses
Sunny windows, drink a bit of tea in a fancy ritual.
No one wearing Qing Ming clothes may avoid the dusty winds
Maybe by Qing Ming the families can retrieve their dead loved ones.
Notes:
Qing Ming: A celebration of over 2,500 years that occurs on the fifteenth day after the Spring Equinox. Also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, it is a time to visit the tombs of one’s ancestors, light incense, and remember those who came before us.