Birthday poem · March 14Awakening of Insects, the 3rd solar term: the first thunder; insects stir.
Birth character
心 xīn · heart
心 is a picture of the heart, once thought to be the organ of thought.
笑而不答心自閒
“My mind carefree, I smile and give him no reply.” — Li Bai, ‘Question and Answer in the Mountains’
Other dates with this poem: October 11
The poem
“The Quince” 木瓜
- 投我以木瓜She tossed me a quince;
- 報之以瓊琚I gave her a jade pendant in return.
- 匪報也Not as repayment —
- 永以爲好也but so we would be close forever.
Why this poem
A Book of Songs poem about exchanging gifts: the token matters less than the bond.
This day in the Chinese calendar
Solar term: Awakening of Insects.