Cold Pavilion
寒 亭
沟 塍 与 涧 合
陇 亩 抱 山 转。
向 来 六 月 旱
此 地 免 焦 卷。
早 穗 已 垂 垂
晚 苗 犹 剪 剪。
一 川 丰 年 意
比 屋 闹 鸡 犬。
老 农 霜 须 鬓
矍 铄 黄 犊 健。
自 云 足 踏 地
常 赋 何 能 免。
刈 熟 倩 人 输
不 识 长 官 面。
康 年 无 复 事
但 恐 社 酒 浅。
我 亦 有 二 顷
收 拾 尚 可 茧。
怀 哉 笠 泽 路
归 铲 犁 头 藓。
Han Ting
Gou cheng yu jian he
Long mu bao shan zhuan.
Xiang lai liu yue han
Ci di mian jiao juan.
Zao sui yi chui chui
Wan miao you jian jian.
Yi chuan feng nian yi
Bi wu nao ji quan.
Lao nong shuang xu bin
Jue shuo huang du jian.
Zi yun zu ta di
Chang fu he neng mian.
Yi shu qian ren shu
Bu shi zhang guan mian.
Kang nian wu fu shi
Dan kong she jiu qian.
Wo yi you er qing
Shou shi shang ke jian
Huai zai li ze lu
Gui chan li tou xian.
Cold Pavilion
Ditches between the fields connected to mountain streams
Acres of rectangular paddies embraced by the nearby hills.
Usually during the sixth lunar month there is a time of drought
This place however remains free of ruined crops.
Young grain tassels gradually bent with ripeness
Some mature sprouts shaped like scissor tools.
One river basin expects a bumper crop this year
Many farm houses have noisy sounds from their chickens and hunting dogs.
One old farmer with frost-colored temple hair
Surprisingly he is as strong as a yellow oxen calf.
Naturally his feet sad and tired from walking this good earth
Often able to pay their land taxes to avoid trouble.
Ripened grain stalks can be given to others for their taxes
He is not familiar with the faces of tax collectors.
This year he is healthy without any worries
Only concerned that the wine shop will have enough to sell.
I also have two hundred mu
Can also show you my hand calluses from working with the cocoons.
Thinking of the family’s hometown and fields
If I return there, my plow will be covered with moss.
Notes:
Two hundred mu: about 33 acres