Tales of Boyhood- 述少年

漫述少年事，岑花向太阳。

柳田无息力，粉蝶任提香。

禾动鱼悠过，树摇果露藏。

肩担惊耄耋，埂憩怅颉颃。

口燥掬河水，心奇咀苇浆。

黄童牛背上，暮色绕羊肠。 

岁在甲午冬月作

 

 

Tales of Boyhood

We roamed as lads where hill-flowers face the sun,
Through willow fields, our tireless steps would run.
Butterflies flitted on scented air,
While fish glided 'neath grain-stalks fair.

 

Trees swayed, their fruits half-hidden shone,
Shouldered loads made elders groan.
On ridge we paused—old rivalries sighed,
Admiring hawks that soared side by side.

 

Thirsty, we cupped the stream's clear flow,
Chewed sweet reed-pith, hearts aglow.
On buffalo backs at dusk we'd sway,
As twilight coiled round the shepherd's way.

—Written in the Winter of 2014, the year of Horse