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Farm Life through the Seasons · 25
梅子金黄杏子肥
Plums turn golden; apricots grow plump.
麦花雪白菜花稀
Wheat flowers are white; rapeseed blossoms thin.
日长篱落无人过
The long day passes; no one walks by the fence.
惟有蜻蜓蛱蝶飞
Only dragonflies and butterflies are flying.
Meaning
Golden plums and plump apricots appear as wheat flowers and rapeseed blossoms change. The long day is quiet beside the fence, except for dragonflies and butterflies. These details mark early summer.
About the poet
Fan Chengda notices early summer through fruit, flowers and flying insects.