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Xià YìSummer Mood 夏意

Su Shunqin (苏舜钦, also known as Su Shun-ch'in)｜Northern Song｜seven-character quatrain

Su Shunqin wakes from a summer nap to pomegranate flowers and one oriole call.

Original Chinese text with pinyin

别院深深夏簟清
bié yuàn shēn shēn xià diàn qīng

石榴开遍透帘明
shí liú kāi biàn tòu lián míng

树阴满地日当午
shù yīn mǎn dì rì dāng wǔ

梦觉流莺时一声
mèng jué liú yīng shí yī shēng

Simplified characters; traditional title: 夏意.

In the secluded courtyard, deep, deep, the summer mat is cool;

pomegranates bloom everywhere, bright through the blinds.

Tree shade covers the ground, the sun stands at noon;

waking from a dream, I hear an oriole's single call.

Original translation by Poetune — literal but poetic, written for this site.

别院深深夏簟清 · bié yuàn shēn shēn xià diàn qīng — In the secluded courtyard, deep, deep, the summer mat is cool;

石榴开遍透帘明 · shí liú kāi biàn tòu lián míng — pomegranates bloom everywhere, bright through the blinds.

树阴满地日当午 · shù yīn mǎn dì rì dāng wǔ — Tree shade covers the ground, the sun stands at noon;

梦觉流莺时一声 · mèng jué liú yīng shí yī shēng — waking from a dream, I hear an oriole's single call.

Su Shunqin wakes from a summer nap to pomegranate flowers and one oriole call. The scene stays with you.

Su Shunqin wakes from a summer nap to pomegranate flowers and one oriole call.

Su Shunqin wrote with a bold Northern Song brush.

Lifetime: 1008–1048. Other famous works: Summer Mood (夏意).