Spring offerings

Tara C. Trapani

In honor of the Vernal Equinox this coming Sunday, we'd like to share two Chinese poems, one an ancient Tang poem and a more recent offering from the 20th century, expressing the tenderness of spring. 
 

Spring Dawn 
Meng Haoran 689/91-740, trans. Shawn Powrie

Sleeping in on a spring morn — sensing not the dawn,
Everywhere is heard the tweeting of the bird,
Come night and the wind-rain sound,
Unknown how many petals fell to the ground.

 

Looking out to the sea, warmed by the spring air
Haizi (Zha Haisheng) 1964-1989, trans. John Sexton

Starting tomorrow, I'll be carefree and happy 
Roaming the world, feeding my horse, chopping firewood
Starting tomorrow, I'll need nothing but rice and a few vegetables
In my house by the sea, warmed by the spring air

Starting tomorrow, I will write to all my loved ones
To tell them of my happiness
Of how happiness struck me like a lightning bolt
I will tell this to each of them

I want to rename all the rivers and mountains
Bring happiness to all strangers 
May they all have a brilliant future
May all lovers find a way to be together
and everyone find happiness in their time on earth

All I want is to look out to sea, warmed by the spring air