孩提鱼水-Memories of Childhood

 

淘米方塘水，白云共碧青。

晓风邀彩蝶，菱叶约蜻蜓。

涟漪堪鉴面，鱼虾任潜形。

浸箩引鳞入，起水玉琼扑。

浑然忘灶台，陶然忘饥腹。

可喜白米虾，细弄晶莹目。

童子不忍伤，放生且投谷。

孩提许多事，枕上两眉间，

其时适穷苦，今来思是甜。

乙未年秋稿

Memories of Childhood

By the pond’s edge, I rinsed rice in water clear,
Where white clouds merged with jade-green far and near.
Dawn winds teased dancing butterflies in flight,
While water lilies beckoned dragonflies light.

Ripples mirrored my face, pure and bright,
Fish and shrimp darted, vanishing from sight.
I dipped my basket, luring them to play,
Then lifted it—splashes like pearls in array.

Lost in joy, I forgot the stove’s demand,
Forgot my hunger, enchanted by the land.
Those tiny translucent shrimp, so fair,
Gleamed with eyes like crystal, delicate and rare.

A child’s heart couldn’t bear to harm,
So I set them free, scattering grains like balm.
So many memories of those early days,
Now linger between my brows, in a wistful haze.

Back then, life was bitter, lean and spare,
Yet now I recall it all with sweetness rare.

(Drafted in Autumn, Yiwei Year)