Birthday poem · July 2Summer Solstice, the 10th solar term: the longest day of the year.
Birth character
高 gāo · high
高 is a picture of a tall building; it means high.
遠近高低各不同
“Assuming different shapes viewed from far and wide.” — Su Shi, ‘Written on the Wall at West Forest Temple’
Other dates with this poem: October 3
The poem
“Little Pine” 小松
- 自小刺頭深草裏From small, a prickly head deep in the grass,
- 而今漸覺出蓬蒿now it is slowly rising above the weeds.
- 時人不識凌雲木People don't recognise a tree that will touch the clouds —
- 直待凌雲始道高not until it touches the clouds do they call it tall.
Why this poem
Du Xunhe on a young pine: no one can see a giant in a sapling.
This day in the Chinese calendar
Solar term: Summer Solstice.