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Chéng Dōng Zǎo ChūnEarly Spring East of the City 城东早春
Yang Juyuan: the first yellow of the willows is the poet's favourite sight.
Original Chinese text with pinyin
诗家清景在新春
shī jiā qīng jǐng zài xīn chūn
绿柳才黄半未匀
lǜ liǔ cái huáng bàn wèi yún
若待上林花似锦
ruò dài shàng lín huā shì jǐn
出门倶是看花人
chū mén jù shì kàn huā rén
Simplified characters; traditional title: 城東早春.
English translation
The poet's clear scenery lies in the new spring,
when green willows have just turned yellow, not yet even.
If you wait until the imperial park is bright as brocade,
everyone out of doors will be a flower-viewer.
Original translation by Poetune — literal but poetic, written for this site.
Line by line
Meaning and imagery
Yang Juyuan: the first yellow of the willows is the poet's favourite sight. The scene stays with you.
Background
Yang Juyuan: the first yellow of the willows is the poet's favourite sight.
Key words
- 诗家 shī jiā
- poets; the poet's craft
- 清景 qīng jǐng
- a clear vista; pure scene
- 在新 zài xīn
- in the new (year / place)
About the poet: Yang Juyuan
Yang Juyuan wrote delicate early-spring scenes.
Lifetime: Mid Tang. Other famous works: Early Spring East of the City (城东早春).