Poetry Buds · 听古诗

OPEN POETRY LIBRARY · S01 / 082

For Liu Jingwen

赠刘景文 · Su Shi · Song dynasty

荷hé尽jìn已yǐ无wú擎qíng雨yǔ盖gài

The lotus has no rain-sheltering leaves left;

菊jú残cán犹yóu有yǒu傲ào霜shuāng枝zhī

The faded chrysanthemums still hold frost-defying stems.

一yì年nián好hǎo景jǐng君jūn须xū记jì

Remember the lovely scenes of the year:

最zuì是shì橙chéng黄huáng橘jú绿lǜ时shí

Especially this time of yellow oranges and green tangerines.

What the poem means

Lotus leaves have faded and chrysanthemums are nearly gone, but their stems still stand. The poet celebrates the season of yellow oranges and green tangerines, when fading and ripening coexist.

Meet the poet

Su Shi was a Song poet. This poem to his friend Liu Jingwen finds beauty in late autumn too.

Su Shi · More poems →