Poetry Buds · 听古诗

OPEN POETRY LIBRARY · S01 / 045

By the Pond After Rain

雨后池上 · Liu Ban · Song dynasty

一yì雨yǔ池chí塘táng水shuǐ面miàn平píng

After rain the pond is full and smooth;

淡dàn磨mó明míng镜jìng照zhào檐yán楹yíng

A softly polished mirror reflects the eaves and pillars.

东dōng风fēng忽hū起qǐ垂chuí杨yáng舞wǔ

Suddenly the east wind makes the willows dance,

更gèng作zuò荷hé心xīn万wàn点diǎn声shēng

And countless drops patter on the lotus leaves.

What the poem means

Rain leaves the pond smooth like a polished mirror, reflecting the eaves. A breeze moves the willows and sends drops onto lotus leaves. The still scene suddenly gains movement and sound.

Meet the poet

Liu Ban was a Song poet and historian who helped compile Zizhi Tongjian.

Liu Ban · More poems →