Birthday poem · December 24Christmas Eve, in the Winter Solstice period.
Birth character
紅 hóng · red
紅 combines 糸 "silk" with 工 as a sound element; it first meant pink silk, then red.
霜葉紅於二月花
“Frost-bitten leaves look redder than early spring flowers.” — Du Mu, ‘Mountain Walk’
The poem
“A Question for Liu the Nineteenth” 問劉十九
- 綠蟻新醅酒lǜ yǐ xīn pēi jiǔGreen ants of new-brewed wine;
- 紅泥小火爐hóng ní xiǎo huǒ lúA little stove of red clay.
- 晚來天欲雪wǎn lái tiān yù xuěEvening comes; the sky would snow—
- 能飲一杯無néng yǐn yī bēi wúCan you drink a cup with me?
Why this poem
Bai Juyi invites a friend for new wine before snow: "Will you have a cup?"
This day in the Chinese calendar
Solar term: Winter Solstice. Near Christmas Eve.