Eastern Fence
东 篱
东 偏 隙 地 作 疏 篱
遇 兴 无 非 一 笑 时。
陪 客 投 壶 新 罚 酒
与 儿 斗 草 又 输 诗。
山 桃 溪 杏 栽 值 活
药 镵 渔 竿 动 自 随。
家 事 犹 令 罢 关 白
固 应 黜 陟 不 曾 知。
Dong Li
Dong pian xi di zuo shu li
Yu xing wu fei yi xiao shi.
Pei ke tou hu xin fa jiu
Yu er dou cao you shu shi.
Shan tao xi sing zai zhi huo
Yao chan yu gan dong zi sui.
Jia shi you ling ba guan bai
Gu ying chu zhi bu cong zhi.
Eastern Fence
Eastern land has a bamboo fence that is scattered, cracked and slanted
Seeing this brings more than one smile.
Groups of visitors play drinking games with fresh wine
Correctly identifying medicinal herbs among the grasses game, the loser has to create a new poem.
Transplanted mountain stream peach and apricot trees are still alive
Grind herbs for medicine, and naturally follow the ways of holding a fishing pole.
Every family member has their job to do in this production
No doubt, we all are unaware of those getting promotions, and those being exiled.
Notes:
Eastern fence: Under the influence of Buddhist-Daoist thought. Famous phrase used in poems by Tao Yuanming. One poem is titled “Drinking Wine (No.5)” and the other, “Begging For Food”. Both can be found on this website.