Su Dongpo: Freehand Brush Strokes

 

[updated September 2022]

 

Freehand Brush Strokes

 

纵 笔
白 头 萧 散 满 霜 风
小 阁 藤 床 寄 病 容。                                                                                          报 道 先 生 春 睡 美
道 人 轻 五 更 钟。
Zong Bi

Bai tou xiao san man shuang feng
Xiao ge teng chuang ji bing rong.                                                                                       Bao dao xian sheng chun shui mei
Dao ren qing da wu geng zhong.

 

Freehand Brushwork

My white hair becoming thinner and like full of frost
Bed-bound with a sickly appearance, stay in small, upper temple rooms.      Told the Daoist teachers my spring sleep very restful
They struck their bells very softly to begin their early morning prayers.

 

Commentary:

While traveling, government officials could often spend their nights inside Buddhist temples.