Birthday poem · November 9Start of Winter, the 19th solar term: winter begins.
Birth character
菊 jú · chrysanthemum
菊 combines 艸 "plant" with a sound element; it is the chrysanthemum, an autumn flower.
採菊東籬下
“Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence” — Tao Yuanming, ‘Drinking Wine, No. 5’
Other dates with this poem: September 9
The poem
“Visiting an Old Friend's Farm” 過故人莊
- 故人具雞黍gù rén jù jī shǔMy old friend prepared chicken and millet,
- 邀我至田家yāo wǒ zhì tián jiāAnd invited me to his farm.
- 綠樹村邊合lǜ shù cūn biān héGreen trees close round the village edge;
- 青山郭外斜qīng shān guō wài xiéBlue hills slant beyond the outer wall.
- 開軒面場圃kāi xuān miàn chǎng pǔWe open the window on the threshing ground,
- 把酒話桑麻bǎ jiǔ huà sāng máAnd over wine talk of mulberry and hemp.
- 待到重陽日dài dào chóng yáng rìWhen the Double Ninth comes round again,
- 還來就菊花huán lái jiù jú huāI will return for the chrysanthemums.
Why this poem
Meng Haoran visits a friend's farm and promises to return at Double Ninth.
This day in the Chinese calendar
Solar term: Start of Winter.