Five-Character Regulated Verse III: Village Life / Mountain Life / Worldly Life

2006/5/24 11:53:50

Village Life

Dwelling idly in mountain wilds,
A clear breeze parts no curtain here.
Three springs of rain patter on tiles,
Through four seasons swallows nest at the eaves.
Rich soil yields abundant harvest,
The secluded village rarely knows summer's blaze.
On cloudless mornings, watching the sun,
On moonlit nights, listening to toads.
Aged butterflies drift on poplar leaves,
Autumn dragonflies sway on tips of wheat.
When chrysanthemums bloom, often brewing wine,
Beneath the fence, reading Tao Qian.

Mountain Life

Green thatch serves as a floor mat,
Emerald bamboo makes a wind curtain.
Beyond the window, clouds conceal the path,
Before the door, water drips from eaves.
Facing the mountain, often with wine,
Cooking greens, sometimes without salt.
The Four Noble Truths still unrecited —
Why add even a single affair?

Worldly Life

In worldly dwelling, there's no far or near,
A tranquil mind makes any place wondrous.
Clamor or quiet — nothing hinders,
Splendid or humble — all is fitting.
Where winds sway through the four seasons,
When the sun dips at the third watch of dusk.
Long songs accompanied by green wine aplenty —
Why must one exhaust every spring dawn?