Earlier Return to Stone Lake
初 归 石 湘
晓 雾 朝 暾 绀 碧 烘
横 塘 西 岸 越 城 东。
行 人 半 出 稻 花 上
宿 鹭 孤 明 菱 叶 中。
信 脚 自 能 知 旧 路
惊 心 时 复 认 邻 翁。
当 时 手 种 斜 桥 柳
无 限 鸣 蜩 翠 扫 空。
Chu Gui Shi Hu
Xiao wu zhao tun gan bi hong
Heng tang xi an yue cheng dong.
Xing ren ban chu dao hua shang
Su lu gu ming ling ye zhong.
Xin jiao zi neng zhi jiu lu
Jing xin shi fu ren lin weng.
Dang shi shou zhong xie qiao liu
Wu xian ming tiao cui sao kong.
Earlier Return to Stone Lake
Dawn fog, daybreak brings the dark purples and warm bluish-greens
Living near the eastern city walls, in the west long levees and riverbanks.
Travelers move around the rice paddies and flowers
Solitary egrets stay overnight, opened water caltrop leaves.
Naturally the old roads still have familiar friends
Heart-mind surprised that I can remember these older people.
In earlier days I planted willow trees by hand next to the bridge
Now they are green and filled with chirping cicadas in unlimited numbers.