English中文
Butterfly Loves the Flower: Spring Scene
花褪残红青杏小，
燕子飞时，
绿水人家绕。
枝上柳绵吹又少。
天涯何处无芳草。
The blossoms have shed their last red, and the green apricots are small. When the swallows fly, the green water circles round the houses of men. Upon the branches, the willow catkins are blown fewer and fewer — yet under all heaven where is there no fragrant grass?
墙里秋千墙外道，
墙外行人，
墙里佳人笑。
笑渐不闻声渐悄。
多情却被无情恼。
Inside the wall a swing, outside the wall a road; the traveler outside the wall, and the fair girl inside the wall, laughing. Her laughter grows fainter, the sound dies away — the one with feeling is tormented by the one without.
Reading notes
绿水 describes water winding around homes; 燕 in 燕子 is read yàn. 悄 is read qiǎo here, describing the fading quietness of the voice.