文／南宋．陸游（1125～1210）

世味年來薄似紗，誰令騎馬客京華？

小樓一夜聽春雨，深巷明朝賣杏花。

矮紙斜行閑作草，晴窗細乳戲分茶；

素衣莫起風塵嘆，猶及清明可到家。

──選自《劍南詩》

As Spring Rain Clears Up in Linan

Lu You (1125 - 1210, Southern Song Dynasty)

English translation: Venerable Miao Guang

Tastes of mundane affairs across the years

thinning away like a layer of gossamer,

Yet who had actually put me on that horse

headed for the bustling capital?

Listening to a night’s pitter-patter

of the spring rain from a small lodge,

When morning comes, apricot flower stalls

begin business behind deep quiet valleys.

Leisurely running my cursive script

across small and tilted pieces of paper,

Pleasantly grading teas by their silky froth

in front of the clear window view.

Lament not over this unadorned outfit

being tainted by mundane dusts,

Home will be within reach by

the time Qingming arrives.

── from Jian Nan Shigao

(Collation and Annotation on Jian Nan Poetry Drafts)